Photo Description: Summer, an alter from the Solar System, is a young woman with short, curly hair who is wearing a navy blue long sleeved shirt and glasses. They are standing at a podium while public speaking at the Stamford, CT Government Center, holding a microphone up to their face. In the foreground, there are multiple people sitting in the crowd with the backs of their heads showing as they pay attention to Summer. The Stamford mayor is on the left, wearing a suit, leaning towards and smiling at them as Summer is speaking.
Photo Description: Summer, an alter from the Solar System, is a young woman with short, curly hair who is wearing a black cardigan over a white shirt and glasses. They are showing off their right, above-the-knee prosthetic leg as Summer is sitting in a chair. The sneaker is off and to the left on the floor, so the prosthetic foot shell shows. There are young children circled around them during "circle time." In the foreground, the left, and the right, are children looking at Summer as they talk about accepting people who are different.
Plural Minds Collaborative exists to bridge the gap between lived experience, professional knowledge, and community support through education, collaboration, coaching, advocacy, and consultation. We believe that people with lived experience possess valuable expertise that can contribute meaningfully to conversations about mental health, trauma, dissociation, disability, recovery, substance use, and human diversity.
Our mission is to create opportunities for individuals, systems, families, professionals, educators, and communities to learn from one another in ways that promote understanding, dignity, and evidence-informed practice. We are committed to fostering respectful collaboration between people with lived experience, clinicians, researchers, educators, peer supporters, and community organizations.
Through peer-informed coaching, educational programming, public speaking, consulting, and community-building initiatives, we seek to help individuals and systems improve communication, increase daily functioning, strengthen self-understanding, and pursue personally meaningful goals while respecting the boundaries between coaching, peer support, and clinical treatment.
We believe that diversity in human experience—including differences in identity, ability, neurodevelopment, culture, recovery journeys, and experiences of trauma or dissociation—should be met with curiosity, respect, and compassion rather than stigma or exclusion.
We support educational efforts at every level, from helping children understand and appreciate differences among people, to speaking in schools and universities, to providing training and consultation for healthcare professionals and organizations.
Plural Minds Collaborative is dedicated to advancing trauma-informed, person-centered, and recovery-oriented approaches by elevating lived experience perspectives alongside scientific research and professional expertise. We recognize that meaningful progress occurs when people work together across disciplines, backgrounds, and experiences.
Our vision is a world where systems, individuals, families, professionals, and communities can access accurate information, practical support, and collaborative learning opportunities that promote understanding, reduce stigma, strengthen recovery, and improve quality of life for all.
Photo Description: Summer, an alter from the Solar System, is a young woman with shoulder length, wavy hair and wearing glasses. They are wearing a white cardigan over a black shirt. Summer is standing in the center of the room while wearing shorts that show off her prosthetic leg. In the foreground, left, and right, there are high school students sitting in a circular crowd while they're paying attention to Summer motivationally speak.
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