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Our Ways of Being
The Philosophy, The Perspective, and The Passion
Land and Labor Acknowledgement
We acknowledge the legacy of the ancestral homelands and traditional territories of Native Indigenous Peoples from which they were violently dispossessed. We recognized the systemic erasure of their complex and unique histories and cultures. We are located on the unceded land of the Accohannock Indian Tribe, the Assateague People's Tribe, the Choptico Band of Indians, the Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians, the Pocomoke Indian Nation. With gratitude, apology, and grief, we honor the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations. We pay our respects to their Elders, past and present, and extend our gratitude for their stewardship of this land.
We further recognize the role of land dispossession in expanding slavery across North America. We acknowledge the heritage of the African and Caribbean diaspora and the violent reality of slavery and forced, exploited labor of Black and Brown bodies that built this area. We recognize that economic growth and development throughout history and across time has been made possible by the labor of enslaved people on which this country was built, with little to no recognition. We acknowledge the profound injustices and suffering caused by the horror of transatlantic trade, chattel slavery, convict leasing, Jim Crow laws, dehumanization, the centuries of economic disinvestment, police violence, and lack of voting representation in Congress, that permeates our existence. We must acknowledge the reverberation of that violence throughout the generations and the resulting impact that can still be felt and witnessed today.
How We Practice
Our Mission, Vision, and Values
You’ve probably wondered what The Holistic Hive is all about. We would like to share with you our principles and practices to explain how we provide mental health services.
Mission:
To foster connection and community building through a purpose-driven, intersectional, inclusive, and anti-oppressive approach to mental health.
Vision:
A thriving community united through holistic mental health services, fostering deep connections that uplift individuals and promote the greater good for all.
Tagline:
Nature-Based, Purpose-Driven, For the Collective Good
Core Values:
Solidarity
We stand together, honoring and acknowledging those who came before us. We celebrate and support each other’s successes and lift one another up. We value feedback.
Definition: We encourage you to ask questions, challenge the statements or perspectives of others, and think critically. This way, when you make decisions in your life, you can trust yourself because you made those choices without coercion. We encourage you to use your voice, set boundaries, and protect yourself. We caution against blind faith and following a “leader” without questioning.
Sustainability
Sustainability starts with us. We prioritize our own emotional, mental, social, physical, environmental, and financial well-being, as well as that of our community.
Definition: Feel free to ask any of us if we see therapists because the answer is yes. We believe it is neither ethical nor healthy for us, or anyone else, to offer and charge for therapy services without being actively engaged in the therapeutic process ourselves. No one here claims to have “completed” therapy, consults a “channeler,” or speaks with someone who is “like a therapist” but lacks proper credentials.
Power Sharing
We create brave spaces that prioritize anti-oppressive practices by actively listening to individuals whose experiences differ from our own. We follow their knowledge and leadership in social justice work.
Definition: We only provide services, including wellness services, that align with evidence-based practices and for which we can document and demonstrate extensive training from various trainers, including those in graduate programs. We welcome requests to see evidence of these licenses, certifications, and training, and we provide information about the individuals or organizations that conferred those degrees, licenses, and certifications, along with their qualifications.
Safety
We recognize that individuals with multiple marginalized identities have unique experiences. Our primary goal is to create safe and connected spaces for everyone.
Definition: We will not ask you to share or confront your trauma through storytelling or questioning. We will only begin trauma work once we have established that you have interoceptive awareness and are prepared to manage any aftereffects of that work using skills specifically tailored for you.
Intersectionality
We prioritize the lived experiences of others, understanding that our identities—such as race, age, sex, gender, and sexual orientation—are interconnected. We recognize both our privilege and the oppression faced by others due to these identities.
Definition: We acknowledge our privilege as a means to learn and unlearn new ways of being. Your experiences are just as valid as ours, and you will not be silenced for sharing different perspectives or values.
Self-Determination
Every individual possesses the inherent right to shape their own future and to determine how they wish to live their lives, free from any form of manipulation or coercion.
Definition: At The Holistic Hive, the Honeybee Collective, and The Honey Hut, our commitment is to empower you. We will never impose our views on you or dictate the path you should take, the lifestyle you should embrace, or the beliefs you should adopt. Your journey is yours alone, and we respect that autonomy wholeheartedly.
Transparency
We prioritize honesty, authenticity, and transparency in our communication and practices.
Definition: We only offer services, including wellness services, that are grounded in evidence-based practices. We can document and demonstrate extensive training from various trainers, including graduate-level education. We encourage requests to view evidence of our licenses, certifications, and training, as well as information about the institutions and individuals who conferred these qualifications and their credentials.
Trust
We will address any form of discrimination and abuse of power that we witness or experience in the workplace, our communities, and our institutions. We encourage those around us to do the same.
Definition: You will not be blamed, shamed, overly optimistic, spiritualized, or given false information. None of us holds a Master’s or Doctorate in Divinity, which means we cannot and do not offer spiritual counseling or wellness services. We reject the puritanical notion that expressing your experiences equates to "victimizing yourself."