Deirdre Laney-King, LMSW, Organizational Coach
- Pronouns:
- She/Her
I am a radical queer social worker specializing in work that challenges and seeks to dismantle systems of oppression at the individual, group and organizational level. I currently work as a program manager, therapist, educator, and consultant. At the Radical Well-Being Center, my job is to support organizational change and development in a way that centers radical and trauma-informed principles.
I have worked for almost ten years in Michigan’s public mental health system as an administrator of children’s services. I also have been in private practice since 2016. As a clinician, I believe in the power of the individual to evolve and grow, transcending experiences of trauma (including experiences of racism, sexism, heterosexism, and cissexism) to find the path forward. As an educator, I am committed to challenging white supremacy, gate keeping, and weaponizing capitalism within the helping professions. I serve as a contributor, trainer, and advisor for the University of Michigan’s Dismantling Oppression Certificate. I guest lecture at the Wayne State University and Oakland University Schools of Medicine on topics related to gender diversity and cultural humility. I work as a consultant to mental health agencies regarding dismantling oppression in public and private service systems.
My areas of focus include restorative and radical approaches to program management and quality improvement, mental health services for people with diverse gender identities, and the traumatic impact of oppression and microagressions.
University of Michigan Ann Arbor, MI 2013
Master of Social Work in Management of Human Services
Concentration in Community and Social Systems
Minor in Community Organizing
Wayne State University Detroit, MI 2011
Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Women’s Studie