Dr. Stacee Reicherzer, an associate professor in Adler University’s Counselor Education and Supervision doctoral program, knows the feeling of being cast out. Dr. Reicherzer is a trans woman with extensive background in higher education, counseling and clinical research. Now, she’s using her lived experiences to bring “Otherness” to the forefront of her teachings.
Reicherzer describes Otherness as the experience of being cast out from a dominant group based on one’s differences. Otherness looks different for everyone – whether it be one’s race, gender identity, religion, culture and so on. She notes the feeling of Otherness can fester over time and lead to internalized unworthiness and oneself becoming their own oppressor, ultimately shaping how they interact in society. Addressing one’s Otherness can be incredibly freeing, described by Dr. Reicherzer.
“When we can start to recognize all that is ours and that there is something truly special and beautiful about who we are, our experiences, and how we move in the world, then we can start taking ownership… We can use these adverse experiences as a source of information.”
Dr. Reicherzer has taken her expertise and lived experiences around Otherness and shaped them into her new book, “The Healing Otherness Handbook.” She offers four tools for individuals ready to take a deep dive into their own experiences: clarity, compassion, creativity and sass. These tools help people identify their pain and shape it into a new outlook on one’s identity and role in society as a whole.
The feeling of Otherness is isolating in and of itself, which takes a greater form during the COVID-19 pandemic. Whether it be one’s health conditions, opinions on politics, or race, the pandemic suddenly put these feelings of Otherness at the forefront again.
Dr. Reicherzer continues her own journey of Otherness, but she has a broadened look on humanity because of her research and individual teachings. “Hurt human beings will often times act from that place. Their wounding is often the actions that we see. I’m operating more and more from a place of compassion and understanding from where those are coming from,” says Dr. Reicherzer.
Dr. Reicherzer joined Adler faculty in August of 2021 and teaches courses in qualitative research and clinical supervision. She also supervises the clinical work of master’s and doctoral students. Outside of Adler University, Reicherzer offers public speaking and her teachings to audiences across the country. Most recently, Reicherzer offered a free online course at Penn State University in early November. Adler University is honored and excited to have Dr. Reicherzer as a member of our faculty. Welcome to Adler, Dr. Reicherzer!