Humility, Ethics, and Our Presence in This Neighborhood

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves.” – Philippians 2:3

In my graduate program for psychology, one of the first things we’re taught—right alongside ethics and APA guidelines—is this: access matters. We’re encouraged to set up our offices in areas where care is often out of reach. Low-income neighborhoods are not just underserved; they are often unseen. That’s why it’s not only ethical to practice there—it’s essential.

Modality isn’t tucked away in a high-rise or a high-end strip center. We’re located just off 410 and Perrin Beitel, close to both public transportation and real life. A few minutes from Alamo Heights and other affluent areas—but a world apart in lived experience. Here, you’ll find working-class families, bus riders, elders, struggling youth, and sometimes those without a home at all.

Some students and clients who visit our space are surprised. But the ones who come with a heart to learn are humbled, not judgmental. That’s what this kind of work requires. Not performance. Not status. But humility.

“Whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” – Matthew 23:12

At Modality, we don’t measure success by who walks through the door wearing designer brands. We look for the ones who show up hungry for healing, open to growth, and willing to meet people where they are. Because that’s what Jesus did. He didn’t isolate Himself from the hurting—He walked toward them.

We believe there is purpose in our placement. Our presence in this community is intentional. It says: you matter. You don’t need to be rich to deserve peace. You don’t need to have a car or a corporate job to access care.

The healing spaces of the future aren’t only going to be behind glass walls and steep price tags. They’re going to be rooted in service, guided by ethics, and grounded in compassion.

Modality is already there.

And we’re not leaving.