Power & Ethics
How I Hold Power
I work in spaces where power is present — and I take that seriously.
Whenever someone facilitates, teaches, leads a programme, or holds a longer-term container, there is an up-power / down-power dynamic. That’s not a problem to solve. It’s a reality to take responsibility for.
This page is here for anyone entering my spaces who values clarity, consent, and ethical leadership.
It outlines how I work with power, care, and accountability across all of my offerings.
Up and Down Power
I name power directly.
Up power comes with role — facilitator, teacher, programme lead.
Down power is held by participants and clients — people who are more affected by decisions than they are able to influence them.
Up power always carries greater responsibility.
This doesn’t mean I know more about someone’s life than they do.
It does mean I’m responsible for the structures I create and the impact they have.
I don’t expect people in the participant role to:
manage my behaviour
hold group safety
carry discomfort quietly
push themselves to speak when it doesn’t feel safe
take responsibility for harm that comes from up power
That responsibility sits with me.
Stewardship
I am the programme steward for all offerings on this site.
That means I hold responsibility for:
programme design
facilitation choices
boundaries and pacing
safeguarding decisions
what and who is platformed
repair when impact occurs
Collaboration matters to me.
Stewardship is held clearly, not implicitly.
Clear role power reduces harm.
Safeguarding
Safeguarding is built into how I work.
For me, safeguarding means:
making power visible rather than implicit
clear boundaries around role and influence
consent that is ongoing and pressure-aware
intervening when harm risk appears
not placing responsibility for safety on participants
Participant wellbeing comes before comfort, reputation, or keeping things smooth.
More detail is available on the Safeguarding & Care page.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is part of safety.
I treat what is shared in sessions, containers, and trainings with care and discretion. I don’t share identifiable client information, stories, or material without explicit consent, and I’m mindful of how even “anonymised” sharing can carry impact in close professional communities.
Privacy is not a branding tool. It is a boundary.
Impact & Repair
Intent doesn’t cancel impact.
If something I do causes harm or distress — even unintentionally — my responsibility is to:
listen
take the impact seriously
engage in repair
adjust practice where needed
Repair isn’t about resolution or reassurance.
It’s about responsibility.
No one is expected to forgive, explain, or make things okay.
Accountability
Ethical work requires clear routes for accountability.
People with less role power often find it difficult to raise concerns directly with someone in a leadership position. I take that into account.
There are:
clear ways to raise concerns
options beyond direct contact with me
transparency about what happens next
protection from retaliation
This isn’t a breakdown of trust.
It’s part of ethical use of power.
Details are on the Concerns, Feedback & Accountability page.
Ongoing Responsibility
Ethics isn’t something you complete.
I stay in:
supervision and consultation
ongoing learning
review and revision of practices
openness to feedback and challenge
I don’t position myself as finished, or beyond accountability.