Equity, Inclusion & Diversity: White Privilege: Growing through Awareness and Action

Patrik Karlsson, LCSW, is currently the Site Director at Kaiser Permanente Richmond Psychiatry. Patrik has worked in Kaiser Psychiatry for 19 years across different programs including Clinical Case Management, BMS, and the Adult Team. He developed and started the pre-MSW training program and became Training Director and held that position for 10 years before transitioning into management.

Patrik grew up in Sweden and also spent part of his childhood in Australia before immigrating to Southern California at the age of 14. Patrik completed his undergraduate degree at the University of California, Irvine, and completed his graduate degree at the University of Southern California in Clinical Social Work. Patrik is trained in CPTp and DBT and applies behavioral lens to both clinical work and management.

Patrik holds an interest in social justice and health equity and has participated in white accountability groups for mental health professionals and for community members for the past 3 year both as a participant and as a facilitator. Patrik lives with his partner and 2 daughters in Richmond. He describes himself as a perpetual learner. He is a firm believer in the DBT inspired motto, “I am doing the best I can AND I can do better.”