Ethics
The work we do at Unmasking Together is built on trust, consent, and shared responsibility. Our ethics exist to support safety, clarity, and integrity for everyone involved.
These aren’t rules meant to control behavior, but agreements that help us practice honesty and connection without harm.
A Practice, Not a Profession
Unmasking Together is a peer-led practice space. We are not therapists, clinicians, coaches, or crisis responders.
We do not diagnose, treat, or provide professional mental health care. This work does not replace therapy, medical treatment, or recovery programs.
Participants are encouraged to seek and maintain the professional and personal support that best meets their needs.
Self-Responsibility & Agency
Each participant is responsible for their own care, choices, and boundaries.
We trust that every person has access to inner wisdom — whether they name it intuition, Self, god, higher power, or something else entirely. We honor autonomy over compliance and discernment over instruction.
No one is required to share anything they don’t want to share. Listening is always an option. Silence is always allowed.
Speaking From Personal Experience
We speak from our own lived experience.
We avoid diagnosing, labeling, analyzing, or interpreting others. We don’t assume we know what someone else needs. If we’re concerned for someone, we ask questions, listening to understand, not to make a point.
When sharing, we focus on what is true for us, rather than what we believe others should think, feel, or do. A wise soul once said, “I don’t care about what you know. I care about what you’ve experienced.” And we find this perspective highly effective at getting to the heart of what we’re feeling, rather than intellectualizing to shield ourselves from pain.
Listening Without Fixing
When someone shares, we listen to understand — not to correct, advise, or fix.
Listening is an act of service, not a passive role. We find that when we notice ourselves having difficulty paying attention to someone’s share, we can often listen with our hearts instead of our heads.
Unless feedback or advice are explicitly requested, we offer presence rather than direction. Witnessing is often the most supportive response we can offer.
Even when invited, suggestions are offered gently and without attachment to outcome. We trust each person’s capacity for self-leadership far more than unsolicited guidance.
Consent, Pace & Participation
There is no expectation to participate in meetings in any particular way.
You may speak freely when it’s your turn or remain completely silent and watch from privacy.
You may want to share briefly, just touching base with the group, or you may want to share at great length, and with rough and scattered honesty. All of it is welcome, wanted, and allowed. We use timers to make sure everyone who wants to share has a chance to share, but your time is yours to use however you heart leads you.
You may want to pass entirely, and there’s never any shame in that.
You may change your mind mid-share and decide you didn’t want to say what you did. You can take it back, voice your regret, and choose to step away. Life is messy. No one here will ask anything of you except respect.
All participation is optional. Pace is respected.
Consent, Pace & Participation
There is no expectation to participate in meetings in any particular way.
You may speak freely when it’s your turn or remain completely silent and watch from privacy.
You may want to share briefly, just touching base with the group, or you may want to share at great length, and with rough and scattered honesty. All of it is welcome, wanted, and allowed. We use timers to make sure everyone who wants to share has a chance to share, but your time is yours to use however you heart leads you.
You may want to pass entirely, and there’s never any shame in that.
You may change your mind mid-share and decide you didn’t want to say what you did. You can take it back, voice your regret, and choose to step away. Life is messy. No one here will ask anything of you except respect.
All participation is optional. Pace is respected.