COURTNEY SUDDES

SHE/HER

Courtney Suddes (pronounced /suh-dis/) is a seasoned trainer & facilitator, committed to embodying & teaching inclusive, antiracist & trauma-informed communication skills.

My background includes: equity & trauma-informed practices, non-violent communication, mediation, civil rights law, inner child work, Internal Family Systems (IFS) coaching, restorative justice practices, coaching with incarcerated adults & adult education.

I focus on trauma education as a springboard for inclusive practices, increased empathy, and improved communication. I also work with my blind therapy dog Bailey, bringing his calming presence to communities and sharing the joy of adopting dogs with disabilities.

I am based in the US, my services are available internationally, in English.

WHITENESS

Naming whiteness is part of liberation and essential for white people to heal. I could also not be healing without SAFETY, or beauty, quiet, calm, natural light pouring in, color, art, plants, animals, medicine, soft music and music to rage to, warm blankets, a lock on my door, a sleep mask on my eyes, Rest.

I could not be healing without friendships, which were only available to me when survivalism and hyper-independence abated just enough for me to see another person, trust them, make space in my heart for them, and love them.

I could not be healing without a trauma therapist, who knows what trauma looks like and helped me name my pain and start to see the good in me.

I could not be healing without money in my pocket on a reliable basis. Everything I named costs money. We acquire money through systems - employment, trusts, inheritance, contracts, partnerships, investments, etc. ALL these systems are rooted in inequity, racism, harm, colonialism, WHITENESS.

I am eking out my healing within these dehumanizing systems and my whiteness helps me. But I’m still just surviving. I know society doesn’t care about me. I know I’m not actually valued. My country doesn’t care about my life, health, healing or freedom. The systems don’t care. But I’ve learned to care. About my life and your life. I know that I’m not free UNTIL WE’RE ALL FREE.

LAND BACK 🌵

REPARATIONS 🖤

ABOLISH THE PRISON SYSTEM 💥

FREE PALESTINE 🍉

FREE SUDAN 🕊

FREE CONGO 🐆

Find healing wherever and whenever you can. Your healing is as precious as mine. Then work to dismantle oppression. “Nobody’s free until everybody’s free.” - Fannie Lou Hamer