Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI)
Compassionate Inquiry® is an approach that emphasizes empathy, curiosity, and non-judgment in the exploration of individuals’ emotional and mental health issues. By incorporating principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) we want to ensure that our approach is accessible and inclusive to everyone, embracing all backgrounds, identities, and individual experiences.
Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is grounded in our mission to bring compassion, healing, freedom, and connection to all people. By weaving together DEI principles with Dr. Gabor Maté’s Compassionate Inquiry, we strive to build a community where different perspectives and experiences are valued and heard.
We understand that achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is an ongoing process. We are committed to continuously reviewing and updating our policies and practices to ensure that we provide a safe and supportive environment for all individuals in the CI community.
What do we mean by DEI?
Diversity is about embracing and celebrating the differences that make each of us unique, whether it’s race, gender, background, ability, or experience. We are committed to creating an environment where everyone’s identity is recognized and valued.
Equity means recognizing that we all come from diverse backgrounds and, therefore, different starting points. By providing specific resources, opportunities, and support for those who have been historically underrepresented or disadvantaged, we aim to ensure everyone has what they need to thrive.
Inclusion is about building a community where everyone feels valued, respected, and empowered to fully participate and contribute. We are committed to ensuring that diverse perspectives are not only welcomed, but integral to our learning and decision-making processes.
To uphold our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in CI, we have established the following:
DEI Policies and Practices
- Accessibility: Ensure that Compassionate Inquiry is accessible to individuals with disabilities, including those with physical, sensory, and cognitive impairments. This may involve providing accommodations such as sign language interpreters, accessible materials, and assistive technology.
- Non-discrimination: Ensure that Compassionate Inquiry policies and procedures promote anti-discrimination and anti-oppression. This may involve developing policies that prohibit discrimination based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, age, religion, ability status, socioeconomic status, or any other identities.
- Cultural humility: Ensure that Compassionate Inquiry is culturally sensitive and respectful of individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds within our global community. This includes specialty training for CI Facilitators and Practitioners as well as the Admin Team to become more culturally competent and knowledgeable about the experiences and needs of clients from different cultures and backgrounds.
We recognize the importance of cultural humility and the need to approach each individual with an understanding of their unique experiences and cultural background. We will strive to educate ourselves on the diversity of our community and be open to learning from our community about their experiences and perspectives. - Inclusivity: Ensure that Compassionate Inquiry is safe and inclusive for individuals from diverse backgrounds, including those who identify as LGBTQIA+, individuals from diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds, abilities, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Inclusive Language: The use of inclusive language in all of our communications, including written materials and verbal interactions. We ask community members for their pronouns and names to ensure that we address them in a way that affirms their identity.
- Intersectionality: Ensure that Compassionate Inquiry policies and procedures recognize the intersectionality of individuals’ identities and experiences.
- Continuing Education: We are committed to ongoing learning; personal and professional development to improve our understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion issues, and to ensure that our practices and ways of being are responsive to the needs of all individuals through our DEI workshops and trainings.
- Complaints and Concerns: We are committed to addressing complaints and concerns related to diversity, equity, and inclusion in a prompt and sensitive manner. We will take appropriate action to address any incidents of discrimination, bias, or harassment.
We understand that achieving diversity, equity, and inclusion is an ongoing process. We are committed to continuously reviewing and updating our policies and practices to ensure that we provide a safe and welcoming environment for all individuals in the CI community.
DEI Guidelines for Respectful Participation
At Compassionate Inquiry we are committed to fostering safe and inclusive spaces for everyone. By being part of this community, you are committing to follow these guidelines to ensure a positive experience for all participants in the CI Programs.
- Respectful Communication: In Compassionate Inquiry, we do not accept any form of violent or oppressive behavior. This includes aggressive language, personal attacks, or derogatory comments towards other members of the group.
- Honoring Identities: In Compassionate Inquiry, we respect and affirm each person’s identity, including their chosen pronouns. Please be mindful of everyone’s pronouns, which are often listed next to their names in Zoom meetings.
- Active Listening: In Compassionate Inquiry, we encourage active listening when others are speaking. What each person has to say is important, and we want to create a space where diverse perspectives are heard and valued.
- Confidentiality: In Compassionate Inquiry, we respect the privacy of all group members and do not share their personal stories outside our biweekly meetings or dyads and triads sessions without consent.
- Constructive Feedback: In Compassionate Inquiry, we provide feedback in a constructive and respectful manner. We focus on ideas, not individuals.
- Safe Space: In Compassionate Inquiry, we want to create a safe space. We are here to learn and grow together. A supportive and mutually respectful environment is essential for everyone to feel secure in their learning process.
By participating in any CI Program, you are committing to following these DEI guidelines for respectful participation to foster a safe space for everyone in the group.
Thank you for your commitment to promoting an inclusive and supportive community! ♥
DEI Initiatives at Compassionate Inquiry®
Language and Accessibility Support
Being an online educational platform, we offer several Language and Accessibility Support services to ensure everyone can engage with our content. These services include transcriptions from all our videos, simultaneous interpretation for our international calls, and translation of our course materials in several languages. Additionally, we provide tech support to help guide you through how to effectively engage with our online platforms.
If you’d like to learn the Compassionate Inquiry® approach in your own language, CI Programs are currently available in Spanish, Romanian, Portuguese, and French. We are also excited that we will soon be expanding our language offerings to share CI with even more communities.
How our participants identify in terms of race and ethnicity:
Compassionate Inquiry is an international program that has trained over 3500 participants from more than 90 countries. Our students continue to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities worldwide.
Professional Training Subsidies and Scholarships
Compassionate Inquiry® offers the year-long Professional Training at a subsidized rate for those who would be unable to attend the program otherwise, due to financial constraints.
To apply for a subsidy for the Compassionate Inquiry® Professional Training, please fill out the subsidy application form here: https://compassionateinquiry.com/online-training/
Reduced-Rate Therapy
One of the requirements of participating in the Compassionate Inquiry® Professional Training is engaging in monthly therapy sessions due to the depth and intensity of the work during the year-long program. The Reduced-Rate Therapy (RRT) initiative is designed to support participants who need financial assistance in fulfilling this requirement by offering reduced-rate therapy sessions from CI Practitioners.
If you are a participant or applicant to the Compassionate Inquiry® Professional Training and would like to receive reduced-rate therapy sessions, please fill out this form.
Certified CI Practitioners: If you are a Certified CI Practitioner interested in offering reduced-rate therapy sessions to participants, please fill out this form.
Compassionate Inquiry® Professional Training BLAIPOC Group
In 2023 we established a partnership with the Black Therapists Rock organization which led to creating a BLAIPOC-only group for the Compassionate Inquiry® Professional Training.
The BLAIPOC-only group is open to all participants who identify as Black, Latinx, Asian, Indigenous or Person of Color. It opens every year during the September cohort and is facilitated by Vimalasara (Dr. Valerie Mason-John), one of our Founding CI Facilitators.
Applications for the September 2025 cohort open on Monday, April 19, 2025.
Apply here: https://compassionateinquiry.com/online-training/
Compassionate Inquiry® Short Course in ASL
The Compassionate Inquiry® Short Course is available in American Sign Language (ASL).
Through a series of videos with Dr. Gabor Maté and Sat Dharam Kaur, this short course provides an overview of the Compassionate Inquiry approach, highlights key qualities to cultivate as a therapist, and teaches essential skills for conducting effective inquiry.
This is a self-paced course, offering unlimited access to the course material. For more information, please visit our website at https://compassionateinquiry.com/short-course/
To apply directly for the Short Course in ASL please click here.
DEI Events
DEI Events are educational spaces designed for all members of the CI Community to explore DEI-related issues, deepen their understanding, and work together towards building a more inclusive, compassionate and supportive community. DEI Events include DEI Sessions, DEI Workshops and DEI Trainings.
If you are interested in facilitating or proposing a DEI Workshop, please fill out the DEI Workshop Proposal Form.
In February 2025 we had our first DEI Session on Understanding Microaggressions with Dr. Roxy Manning. If you are interested in watching the recording of this session, please email us at [email protected].
DEI Proposals Form
We are actively working towards creating a more inclusive and supportive community, and we recognize that this is not only an ongoing journey but a collective one. We value the opportunity to hear and learn from diverse voices and perspectives and would love to hear from you.
If you would like to propose new DEI initiatives, contribute to our DEI efforts, or have suggestions on how to improve our current initiatives, please fill out the DEI Proposals Form.
DEI Complaints Form
Anyone who would like to file a complaint or report an incident related to discrimination or harassment, including issues related to race, ethnicity, religion, disability, gender, sexual orientation, or any other forms of identity-based discrimination, must fill out the following Complaints Reporting Form.
If you need any additional information or support related to DEI, please reach out to Anapaula, our DEI Coordinator.
Anapaula Ramirez
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Coordinator
Contact Anapaula for inquiries about:
- Diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, including questions on accessibility.
- Suggestions and feedback on how to improve CI’s response to diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility issues in our programs.
- Claims or requests regarding diversity, equity, inclusion or accessibility in CI.
Email: [email protected]
Creators of Compassionate Inquiry®
Dr. Gabor Maté is a retired physician, bestselling author, an internationally renowned speaker and the creator of the Compassionate Inquiry approach to psychotherapy.
Gabor evolved this therapeutic approach over 20 years of his personal journey, and from his work with patients in family practice, palliative care, and addiction. He developed his system further while facilitating integration workshops focused on healing trauma through the use of psychedelics.
Sat Dharam Kaur N.D. has supported Dr. Gabor Maté in structuring the Compassionate Inquiry approach and developing the online training.
Sat Dharam is a naturopathic doctor, teacher and author, who combines naturopathic medicine with Compassionate Inquiry, yoga, breathing practices and meditation to support others in healing and integrating mind, body and spirit.