Walden’s Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

At Walden, we see our diversity as a strength, and the individuality we each contribute toward the greater good makes us stronger together.

We know that having varied perspectives helps generate better ideas to solve the complex problems of a changing world. This belief is central to our mission and to the impact we have on our clients and their families. Our commitment to these values is unwavering.

We have and will always be a company for ALL

We strive to create an environment that feels safe and welcoming, because we know that is critical to effective treatment and lasting recovery.

Walden will continue to stand up and stand together to be a leader who does not shy away from doing and saying what’s right. We will continue to be a place where inclusivity and equality for all are at our very core so that everyone has access to the care they need and deserve.

About Walden’s DEIA Group

Walden’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Group was formed in 2019 and meets monthly to discuss and plan actionable items that help make Walden a safe and accepting space for all staff and clients. DEIA Group members work together on initiatives focusing on the following:

• Partnerships and Speakers
• Resource Library and Research
• Hiring and Training
• Employee Awareness

Recent DEI Accomplishments

Walden’s DEIA Group is proud of our work to bring different perspectives and learnings to the greater Walden team while championing multiple causes throughout the year. Recent work includes:

• Educational newsletters sent to all staff to honor Black History Month, Juneteenth, Pride Month, Minority Mental Health Month, and Hispanic Heritage Month, among others
• Collective moment of silence on Transgender Day of Remembrance
• Donation to the Black Mental Health Alliance
• Hosted Norman Kim, Co-founder and Principal of Institute for Antiracism and Equity in Mental Health, for an in-depth training for all staff, recorded onboarding training video for all new staff, and thorough review of our treatment material for diverse language
• Hosted Ben O’Keefe for a Walden-wide talk about how his recovery journey as a queer BIPOC man led to his work in changing the fashion industry as seen in “White Hot: The Rise And Fall Of Abercrombie and Fitch”
• Hosted round table discussion with three LGBTQIA+ speakers with SpeakOUT Boston who shared their powerful stories about living in the world today.
• Purchased “Full Bloom” print for Center for Recovery lobby; Artist Kathryn Hack is a fat, queer, disabled artist and former pastor, and her art is a reminder that all are welcome when they step through our doors
• Led efforts to make Martin Luther King Jr. Day a Walden holiday for all staff

Lifting Up & Healing All Communities

We strive to be representative and inclusive across our facilities and programs. We realize that this work is never done, and we are always looking for ways to do better. But here’s a look some of what we are doing to take steps in the right direction.

LGBTQIA+ Community

Walden’s innovative programming like Rainbow Road offers culturally competent treatment for patients who are seeking care by clinicians with a deep understanding of their unique circumstances and challenges.

Walden’s Rainbow Road virtual partial hospitalization program (PHP) and virtual intensive outpatient program (IOP) are unique online eating disorder day treatment programs that provide support for LGBTQIA+ patients by LGBTQ+ providers.

Rainbow Road was recently named best online eating disorder therapy for LGBTQIA+ by Verywell Mind, an award-winning health and wellness resource that reaches 150 million readers each year.

In addition to dedicated programming for the LGBTQIA+ community, Walden strives to be an authentic ally through elevating stories of our past clients, hosting speakers and celebrating June Pride Month.

We invite you to check out these additional resources and stories.

• Pride Month History & Facts Presentation
• How to Find an Affirming, Inclusive Eating Disorder Treatment Provider (guest blog submission)
• Culturally Responsive ED Care Helped Save My Life (guest blog submission)
• Gender and Sexuality: A Clinician’s Guide to Supporting the LGBTQ+ Community

BIPOC Community

The need for a more equitable mental healthcare system does not exclude eating disorder treatment.

When it comes to our patients and families, we know eating disorders do not discriminate. And still, we recognize the gaps of racial inequality that exist at every turn. Walden is committed to helping bridge this divide by providing care to all. We are one of the few eating disorder treatment providers that takes most insurances and work to bring quality care to all those who need it.

And still, we know our work is never done. The fight for equality rests with all of us.

When it comes to our team, we know the importance of having diversity at every level of the organization. That is why we have made investments in more diverse recruiting tools and continue to identify promotion and advancement opportunities for our BIPOC staff.

Weight Inclusivity

Walden is committed to evidence-based practice and delivering care that does not perpetuate weight stigma or reinforce weight bias. To meet this goal, we created a Weight Inclusivity Task Force to assess, improve and advance Walden’s clinical programming and treatment planning with guidance from the research literature.

This interdisciplinary team of experts spent 18 months clarifying, codifying, educating, and training our staff on Walden’s philosophy and the clinical protocol around weight and weight-related treatment objectives. The team is now educating other eating disorder and partnering providers using their Weight-Related Treatment Objectives: A Shift in Treatment & Culture since we believe that collaboration is of the utmost importance to the health of the individuals we serve.

Walden is also mindful in making sure furniture at our facilities is comfortable for all body shapes and sizes.

Other Resources

• Walden’s Nondiscrimination Policy
• Hate and Bigotry Have No Home at Walden
• Eating Disorders in the South Asian Community
• Harvard Implicit Biases Tests
• LGBTQ+ Pride Celebration

Elevating DEIA Voices

We invite you to follow us on social to see what the DEIA Group is up to and how we’re elevating Walden’s commitment to celebrating and honoring what makes us different.