Center for Mindful Psychotherapy, November Newsletter
Your monthly newsletter from our non-profit collective of ~100 Associate Marriage and Family Therapists in the San Francisco Bay Area
Bringing You A Moment of Mindfulness
As we approach Thanksgiving, a time traditionally focused on gratitude, you may find it challenging to feel grateful amidst the weight of national and global issues. For those facing personal challenges and for communities impacted by systemic injustices, gratitude may feel out of reach. So, this month, instead of focusing solely on gratitude, we want to emphasize resilience, solidarity, and the strengths we each bring to the table.
November is also Transgender Awareness Month, a time to highlight the experiences, challenges, and strengths of the transgender community. Mid-month there’s also Anti-Bullying Week, so it’s a good time to think about ways to support children and teens in their school experiences. We will share some thoughts.
But first, let’s pause. Here's a reminder to take just a moment to land here. You do not need to multi-task. You don't have to think about what's next. You don’t have to do anything but read. Be right here with these words on this page. Listen to your own heartbeat and feel your feet on the ground as you take in these ideas. We are happy to be here in this space with you.
Transgender Awareness Month, Week, Day
November is Transgender Awareness Month, a time to honor the resilience, contributions, and history of the transgender community. It includes Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR) on November 20, founded in 1999 by San Francisco-based advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith. Created to memorialize the lives lost to anti-transgender violence, this day has since grown into a month-long period dedicated to raising awareness, combatting prejudice, and celebrating the strength of the trans community.
At CMP, we understand the importance of providing inclusive, affirming spaces in therapy where individuals feel empowered to explore and affirm their identities. San Francisco, with its legacy of trans advocacy and support, offers a strong network for the community, and we are committed to upholding that legacy. As therapists, we honor the strength within the trans community and are dedicated to offering compassionate care that respects each person’s journey. You will find trans and non-binary therapists on our staff.
Transgender Awareness Month
Transgender Awareness Month is rooted in a rich history of visibility, advocacy, and resilience, aimed at increasing awareness and educating allies. This month celebrates trans identities while calling for policies that ensure equity, safety, and dignity. In San Francisco, the trans community has long stood at the forefront of the fight for rights and recognition, from the Compton’s Cafeteria Riot in 1966—one of the first acts of organized resistance against anti-transgender violence—to the establishment of TDOR by local advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith. These historic moments remind us of the ongoing need for compassionate and affirming spaces. By creating spaces rooted in empathy, understanding, and affirmation, we can address the effects of transphobia and societal challenges.
Transgender Awareness Week (November 13-19)
Transgender Awareness Week is a time dedicated to community events, storytelling, and advocacy, creating spaces where trans voices can be heard, celebrated, and supported. It can be a vital period for raising awareness, sharing experiences, and fostering allyship. Here in San Francisco, the week is often marked by events like film screenings, panel discussions, and community gatherings that highlight the diversity and resilience of the trans community. Many local organizations host storytelling events, art exhibitions, and vigils, offering both a celebration of identity and a solemn reflection on the challenges still faced. It’s a time for allies to engage, learn, and stand in solidarity, making space for trans experiences and perspectives to lead the way.
Anti-Bullying Week: Standing Up for Trans Youth
Transgender Awareness Week overlaps with Anti-Bullying Week (November 11-15), a meaningful intersection that offers the opportunity to spotlight the importance of protecting and supporting trans youth. Transgender teens often face heightened levels of bullying, discrimination, and isolation, which can impact their mental health and self-esteem. 2024 Anti-Bullying Week’s theme of “Choose Respect” highlights the need for safe environments where young people feel valued and empowered to be their authentic selves. By standing together during this week, we affirm that respect, empathy, and understanding are foundational for the well-being of all youth, especially those within the trans community.
Transgender Day of Remembrance (November 20)
TDOR was founded in 1999 by San Francisco-based advocate Gwendolyn Ann Smith after the brutal murder of Rita Hester, a Black trans woman in Massachusetts, whose death highlighted the widespread disregard for trans lives in the media and law enforcement. Hester’s murder, like so many others, received little attention and respect, with misgendering and a lack of accountability surrounding her case. In response, Smith organized a candlelight vigil to honor Hester’s memory and to bring visibility to the tragic pattern of violence faced by the trans community. Since that first vigil, TDOR has grown into a global day of reflection, honoring the lives lost and calling for a world where trans individuals can live freely and safely.
Find activities, styles, and self-care routines that make you feel truly at home in your body. Body positivity can be empowering for anyone—whether you're exploring your gender identity, healing from shame or trauma, embracing your body’s natural shape, or simply celebrating the unique person you are.
Here are some examples:
Wear clothes that make you feel comfortable and confident.
Practice mindful breathing and appreciate your body’s strength.
Spend time moving in ways you enjoy, like dancing or stretching.
Be slow and intentional when moisturizing, applying lotion, soaping up, shaving.
Avoid mirrors and scales for a time; focus on how your body feels.
Celebrate small victories in self-care, like a restful night’s sleep.
Try affirmations that remind you of your body’s resilience.
Curate your social media to emphasize body-positive messages.
San Francisco’s Pioneers in Transgender Advocacy
Lou Sullivan (1951–1991): A pioneering transgender activist, writer, and founder of the GLBT Historical Society. Sullivan was one of the first openly gay trans men, advocating for trans visibility and rights, especially within the gay community. His work broke barriers and paved the way for greater acceptance and understanding of diverse gender and sexual identities.
Miss Major Griffin-Gracy (b. 1940): A Stonewall veteran and long-time trans rights activist who continues to support transgender people of color, especially those impacted by the prison system. In 2005, she became the Executive Director of the Transgender GenderVariant Intersex Justice Project (TGIJP) in San Francisco, continuing her lifelong work in trans advocacy.
Felicia Flames Elizondo (1946–2021): A trans Latina activist and U.S. Navy veteran who participated in the 1966 Compton's Cafeteria Riot. Her activism spanned decades, including efforts to memorialize trans history in San Francisco. She was a prominent figure in the city’s annual Trans March and LGBTQ+ pride events.
Veronica Fimbres (b. 1948): The first openly transgender person to run for public office in San Francisco and a prominent advocate for transgender healthcare rights. Her work has been pivotal in pushing for accessible healthcare and education on trans issues in the Bay Area.
Cecilia Chung (b. 1965): An influential transgender rights activist and Senior Director of Strategic Initiatives at the Transgender Law Center. Chung is also a leader in HIV awareness and prevention and serves on the San Francisco Health Commission. She has been a key advocate for health and human rights in San Francisco and nationally, especially for trans people living with HIV.
Honey Mahogany (b. 1983): A social worker, drag performer, and co-founder of The Transgender District in San Francisco, the world’s first legally recognized transgender cultural district. Mahogany’s work includes advocacy for trans rights, affordable housing, and community development, and she made history as the first Black trans person elected to the San Francisco Democratic County Central Committee in 2018. In May 2024, London Breed appointed her a San Francisco’s Director of the Office of Transgender Initiatives (OTI).
Aria Sa’id (b. 1989): A co-founder and former Executive Director of The Transgender District in San Francisco as well as founder and director of the Kween Culture Initiative. Sa’id’s work focuses on empowering trans communities through policy advocacy, economic development, and social programming. She is a strong voice for economic equity and trans inclusion in urban development.
These are just a handful of the people who have helped shape San Francisco’s legacy as a center for trans visibility and advocacy, paving the way for future generations through their leadership and dedication to equity, health, and community-building. Their contributions remind us of the ongoing fight for justice, safety, and dignity for all transgender individuals.
Meet Our Therapists
Kel shares:
As a trans woman and somatic therapist, I have an embodied and practical understanding of how transphobia and cissexism can impact our relationships to our bodies. I work primarily with transgender, nonbinary, and queer adults and couples in California. I am here to support you in navigating anxiety, as well as alleviating dissociation and depression. I am here to support you with developing more understanding of yourself by spending intentional time being curious about what’s coming up in your body.
Learn more about working with Kel Smith.
What is Gestalt Therapy?
Gestalt therapy focuses on the here and now, emphasizing awareness, experience, and the relationship between therapist and client. Rather than delving solely into the past, Gestalt therapy encourages clients to explore their thoughts and emotions in the present moment, bringing mindful awareness to body sensations, gestures, and expressions.
This therapy emphasizes holistic healing, seeing each person as a unified whole, and it is particularly helpful for those looking to deepen self-awareness and achieve greater self-acceptance. Through techniques like role-playing and the “empty chair” exercise, Gestalt therapy helps clients address unfinished business, resolve conflicts, and experience personal growth.
You Might Like Gestalt Therapy If ...
You want a therapy that emphasizes present-moment awareness.
You’re looking to gain deeper insight into your emotions and behaviors.
You prefer an experiential, hands-on approach to self-exploration.
You feel stuck in recurring relational or emotional patterns.
You’re interested in developing a stronger mind-body connection.
You want a therapy that values authentic self-expression.
You’re seeking personal growth and a deeper understanding of yourself.
You feel comfortable engaging in creative exercises like role-play or guided imagery.
You’re drawn to a therapy that can adapt to diverse and intersectional identities.
Learn more about Gestalt therapy here.
Recommendations
Here are this month’s recommendations:
Goodreads: “The future of Black, queer, and trans liberation explored by a legendary transgender elder and activist. Miss Major Griffin-Gracy is a veteran of the infamous Stonewall Riots, a former sex worker, and a transgender elder and activist who has survived Bellevue psychiatric hospital, Attica Prison, the HIV/AIDS crisis and a world that white supremacy has built. She has shared tips with other sex workers in the nascent drag ball scene of the late 1960s, and helped found one of America’s first needle exchange clinics from the back of her van.”
From Spotify: “Elle is a transgender woman who started this show to talk. Each week, Transgender Woman Talking presents bits of inspiration, encouragement for other trans siblings, and reflections from a perspective down life's road. Elle currently works as a pre-licensed psychotherapist at an LGBTQ community clinic in California. She is happily married with children, and during the two decades prior to transitioning worked as an ordained Christian pastor.”
From PFLAG: “Filmed over five years in Kansas City, this HBO documentary chronicles the lives of four young people and their families as they navigate growing up transgender in America’s heartland. By sharing personal realities of how gender expression is reshaping their lives, Transhood explores how these families struggle and stumble through parenting, and how the kids are challenged and transformed as they experience the complexity of their identities.”
Amazon description:
“In Kids on the Street Joseph Plaster explores the informal support networks that enabled abandoned and runaway queer youth to survive in tenderloin districts across the United States. Tracing the history of the downtown lodging house districts where marginally housed youth regularly lived beginning in the late 1800s, Plaster focuses on San Francisco’s Tenderloin from the 1950s to the present. He draws on archival, ethnographic, oral history, and public humanities research to outline the queer kinship networks, religious practices, performative storytelling, and migratory patterns that allowed these kids to foster social support and mutual aid. He shows how they collectively and creatively managed the social trauma they experienced, in part by building relationships with johns, bartenders, hotel managers, bouncers, and other vice district denizens. By highlighting a politics where the marginal position of street kids is the basis for a moral economy of reciprocity, Plaster excavates a history of queer life that has been overshadowed by major narratives of gay progress and pride.”
Amanda Palmer’s "Runs in the Family" dives into the tangled webs of inherited traits, family dynamics, and the weight of generational patterns. This song explores how mental health, personality traits, and even self-destructive tendencies can feel like they’re passed down, shaping our identities in ways we might not always recognize.
Music is the Medicine
This month’s music share is:
Mental Health News From Around The Web
NBC News: Study establishes first causal link between anti-trans laws and suicide attempts
The Atlantic: Couples Therapy, but for Siblings
TIME: Therapists Share the 1 Tip That’s Changed Their Lives
Nature: The huge toll of PhDs on mental health: data reveal stark effects
NPR: More than a dozen states sue TikTok, alleging it harms kids and is designed to addict them
NY Times: Can AI Be Blamed for Teen’s Suicide?
Psychology Today: New research shows how couples navigate political relationship divides.
