Why Organizers Need & Deserve Therapy

By Alex San Diego

July 24, 2025

Uncategorized

When winds carry the movements of an ocean, they form waves containing the momentum of the waters below. In collective actions, organizers are the crest of the wave, the visible force that surges forward onto the surface. From union leaders to club presidents, they are the driving forces within communities and social movements.

But being the driving force behind the fight for justice can pose heavy challenges. Organizers often work long hours, care deeply about and are personally invested in the causes they fight for, and regularly have little separation between their personal lives and their causes.

As a result, the rate of attrition for organizers can be quite high, up to 50-60% as of 2003 data. When taking a break, Asian organizers also have to surmount cultures of sacrifice and martyrdom that can lead to feelings of guilt. Given this, AMHC believes that therapy can provide a strong foundation in ensuring that organizers get the help that they not only need, but deserve.

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