A Decolonizing Approach to Psychotherapy
Content warning: this article discusses topics some may find disturbing. Reader discretion is advised.
The world is a profoundly unfair place.
But more and more people are waking up to the realization that it doesn’t have to be.
Each of us, in our own way, in our own corners of the world, can work toward a fairer, more equitable world.
That’s particularly true in the field of mental health.
At The Witch's Therapist in London Ontario, we offer holistic psychotherapy services.
That means we offer a wide variety of psychotherapy treatment modalities, but there’s much more to it than that.
You might have heard the words “anti-oppression” and “decolonizing” used more often as folks in Canada and North America try to push back against racism and work towards justice.
But it’s important that these ideas don’t just become popular words without real action behind them.
Decolonizing therapy means looking closely and questioning the usual, mostly Western ways of thinking about mental health and healing.
This week on our clinic blog, we’ll be exploring what it means to decolonize psychotherapy.
But before we do that, we need to understand what colonialism means in the first place.
Let’s take a look.
What Is Settler Colonialism?
What we call settler colonialism will have different connotations depending on where you’re from.
The Witch’s Therapist is located in London, Ontario, Canada.
This is the traditional lands of the Haudenosaunee, Lūnapèewak, Attawandaron, and Anishinaabek peoples.
So with that in mind, we’ll discuss settler colonialism today with those and other North American Indigenous peoples in mind.
Now, part of settler colonialism means erasing Indigenous voices.
This can make such things difficult to talk about as a woman of European ancestry writing this article.
Fortunately, Indigenous people have spoken about this practice in depth.
As much as possible, we’ll be relying on their words to help us understand their experiences.
Laura Hurwitz and Shawn Bourque wrote a Settler Colonialism Primer, and provide a useful definition.
They say, quote:
“Colonialism is a system that occupies and usurps labor/land/resources from one group of people for the benefit of another….“Indigenous Peoples are erased through outright genocide, assimilation and interbreeding (including rape). In this process, racialized categories become important for perpetuating the system (see “Racial Formulation” section below). Settlers are also different from other colonizers in that they are there to stay, unlike in other colonial systems where the colonizer returns to their home country after profiting. Here, the land itself is the profit. Another important concept in understanding this system is the idea that in settler colonialism, “invasion is a structure not an event.” This means that settler colonialism is not just a vicious thing of the past, such as the gold rush, but exists as long as settlers are living on appropriated land and thus exists today.”
Many atrocities have been committed against the Indigenous peoples of Canada in the name of settler colonialism.
If you’d like to understand more, local Nehiyaw/Anishinaabe/Lenape artist Jenna Rose created a zine series, Atrocities Against Indigenous Canadians for Dummies.
But needless to say, settler colonialism has done great harm to the Indigenous peoples of North America, and continues to do so.
Now, that’s a very brief overview of a deeply complex topic, of course.
If you’d like to know more, I encourage you to continue exploring the resources linked above.
What Is Decolonization?
The organization Indigenous Corporate Training talks about decolonization on their blog.
They say, quote:
“Decolonization is about shifting the way Indigenous Peoples view themselves and the way non-Indigenous people view Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples are reclaiming the family, community, culture, language, history and traditions that were taken from them under the federal government policies designed for assimilation. Some communities are reclaiming control via self-government agreements, treaties, or other negotiated agreements. It’s about revealing, renewal and rediscovery.”
But this isn’t just the responsibility of Indigenous Peoples.
They continue:
“Decolonization requires non-Indigenous Canadians to recognize and accept the reality of Canada’s colonial history, accept how that history paralyzed Indigenous Peoples, and how it continues to subjugate Indigenous Peoples. Decolonization requires non-Indigenous individuals, governments, institutions and organizations to create the space and support for Indigenous Peoples to reclaim all that was taken from them.”
This can be complicated for those of us who were born in Canada and benefit from the legacy of colonialism.
Part of a commitment to antiracism and anti-oppression involves a sober consideration of our roles in settler colonialism.
For many of us, this can be a painful experience.
But the goal isn’t guilt.
It’s justice.
How Does Decolonizing Apply To Therapy?
The ways of thinking about psychology that come from North America and Europe have shaped a lot of therapy.
In popular culture, we generally still think of figures like Sigmund Freud, Carl Jung, and B.F. Skinner as the figureheads of psychology and psychotherapy.
These men made great contributions to their fields, to be sure.
But these Western ideas haven’t always included or valued the strengths of different cultures.
Sometimes, these ways of thinking can give power and privilege to some groups over others.
This can hurt the well-being of people from different racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Sometimes this might be obvious, but often it’s far more subtle.
Often, traditional Western therapy looks mostly at you as an individual and your family.
It might not pay enough attention to the bigger picture, like your culture, your community, your ancestors, and unfair systems in society.
Many types of therapy were not designed with Indigenous, Black, and people of colour (IBPOC) in mind.
Even when therapy tries to be based on proof and research, these models often come from Western science.
This can mean that they don’t fully understand or value other ways of knowing and healing from different cultures.
These models might seem to say that Western ways are better or more advanced.
Also, the research that these models are based on often doesn’t include many different kinds of people.
So, what works for one group might not work for everyone.
The main way of looking at mental health in the West, which comes from a history of colonization, doesn't always give a full picture of why people feel unwell and how they can heal.
How Does Colonization Affect Mental Health?
Colonization is like a deep wound that affects everything.
It can cause people to feel separate from their land, their ancestors, their community, and the joy they naturally have.
When people face unfair treatment and experience bad things happening to them, these can be the real reasons for mental health problems.
When therapy practices come from a colonial way of thinking, they might not pay attention to or might even wrongly label the experiences and feelings of BIPOC and marginalized people.
This can lead to therapy not working well for them.
For people who are queer or trans and also BIPOC (QTBIPOC), it’s especially important to take apart unfair systems in therapy for it to be helpful.
Below, we’ll look at three particular ways in which colonization can cause mental health harm.
This is by no means an exhaustive list.
1. Intergenerational Trauma
Intergenerational trauma is trauma that’s passed down through families.
This can be true of anybody whose ancestors have dealt with deep trauma.
But it’s particularly true for the Indigenous Peoples of North America, or for Black North Americans whose ancestors were slaves.
Psychotherapy for intergenerational trauma can help.
2. Race-Based Traumatic Stress
Unfair treatment and discrimination based on ethnicity can be deeply traumatic.
Race-based traumatic stress is the deep hurt you feel after racist things happen.
This is often mixed with unfairness because of your social class and subtle but hurtful things people say or do, called microaggressions.
Racial trauma counselling is geared toward working through these feelings.
3. Soul Wound
"Soul wound" refers to the deep psychological, spiritual, and emotional impact of colonization on individuals and communities.
Some of the effects of soul wounding include feelings of disconnection, disembodiment, and fragmentation, as well as chronic exhaustion or burnout.
It can lead to conditioned responses shaped by colonial history, heightened hypervigilance, and rage that is often pathologized.
Other effects include:
· The diminishing of spiritual practices and the magic of the self
· A denial or rejection of ancestral connections and cultural traditions
· A deep fear of being judged or overly scrutinized
RELATED: Chronic Stress and Burnout Therapy
Decolonizing Therapy Is an Ongoing Process
Very few people consider themselves to be racist people.
However, that doesn’t make us immune to recreating and perpetuating racism.
There’s so much to learn – and unlearn – when it comes to decolonizing therapy.
It’s important to always remember the history of colonization and to focus on the rights and land of Indigenous people when you talk about “decolonizing”.
Decolonizing therapy is not something you do once and are finished with.
It’s an ongoing and active process of learning and changing.
There’s no single “right” way to do it.
Things for Clients to Think About When Looking for Decolonizing Therapy
If you’re looking for a therapist who decolonizes their practice, you can ask them how they do this.
Look for therapists who:
Understand power differences in therapy
Pay attention to unfair systems in society
Recognize the influence of culture and ancestral history
Are open about their own backgrounds and biases
Show humility and a willingness to learn
Are flexible in their therapy methods and open to non-Western ideas
Book Your Appointment With The Witch’s Therapist Today
Decolonizing therapy is so important for healing from the hurtful effects of colonization and unfair treatment.
It’s about bringing back collective healing and respecting the wisdom of our ancestors.
Not everyone is able to fit into the current systems that come from colonialism.
Decolonizing therapy can help everyone move towards real healing, freedom, and a good life.
At The Witch’s Therapist, we recognize the complex nature of navigating such topics.
If you’re dealing with intergenerational trauma or race-based traumatic stress, you’re not alone.
For new clients, we offer a FREE 15-minute introductory session.
We’ll pair you with a psychotherapist who has experience with your unique needs.
They will take the time to listen to your concerns, answer your questions, and help you understand how holistic psychotherapy can help.
Book your FREE 15-minute intro session with The Witch’s Therapist today.
The Witch's Therapist
242 Dundas St.
London, Ontario
Canada
N6A 1H3
1-226-977-1660
► London Ontario Holistic Psychotherapy
The Witch's Therapist is located in London, Ontario and offers holistic psychotherapy therapy throughout London and surrounding areas.