ONLINE THERAPY IN WASHINGTON STATE & California

Decolonizing Therapy

Toward Wellness, Health & Liberation

What Does Decolonizing/Anti-Colonial Therapy Look Like In Session?

Therapy is not simply a space where you talk and then I nod silently.

We can create a rich and complex space for all your stories, identities, and life experiences.

The longer I do this work, the more I understand the core differences between a good therapy experience vs. a life changing transformative therapy experience.

It all comes back to the relationship. When you like, trust, and vibe with your therapist, therapy will inevitably be more meaningful, impactful, and effective.

What Is Decolonizing Therapy?

  • Decolonizing therapy is an approach and process toward healing from the dehumanizing effects of colonization, imperialism, state-sanctioned violence, and systemic oppression.

  • It is a way to center our own rich familial, cultural, and ancestral wisdom, experiences, knowledge, and strengths.

  • It is the reminder that we do not need permission to heal.

  • Ultimately, while we may experience problems and distress, we also simultaneously carry our own internal solutions for healing, growth, and transformation.

  • There are many pathways to healing, and therapy is one, but not the only way toward growth, change, and liberation.

Ways I Try To Decolonize My Therapy Practice

No therapist is perfect because perfection doesn’t exist.

However, being a therapist requires lifelong (un)learning, (re)learning, and I am actively engaged in the following so I can provide clients a space for them to speak their truths.

It’s important to know the history of social work, mental health, and psychology and for current practitioners to challenge our foundation through critical thought, training, education.

Ultimately, my goal is to continually develop a deeper awareness of how power and privilege affect the way others navigate and experience the world.

01. Understanding, Unpacking, & Exploring

  • Therapy should always take into account larger systems (societal, familial, cultural, political, institutional) because external factors shape who we are and how we live.

  • The effects of systemic oppression, white supremacy, colonization, war, enslavement, genocide, and imperialism on the human psyche and our families, communities, and relationships with others and ourselves

  • How oppression and trauma creates mental health issues

  • The limitations of psychology, psychiatry, social work, counseling, and therapy;

  • Continually learning about the following areas: neurodiversity and neuroaffirmative care, Health at Every Size, gender diversity, gender based violence, culturally affirming mental health care, international politics

  • Addressing and redressing the way in which the formal mental health care systems and how my own role as a gatekeeper perpetuates inequality

02. Anti-Oppression & Anti-Racism Work

  • Being a therapist requires lifelong (un)learning, (re)learning, and I’m actively engaged in my own work (challenging biases, fragility, limitations as well as my areas of power and privilege). 

  • Educating myself on non-Western and non-Eurocentric theories, literature, and research

  • Continuing to learn about the impacts of ableism, anti-blackness, racism, colorism, cissexism, transphobia, sexism, heterosexism, classism, poverty

  • Unlearning ways internalized, unconscious patriarchal conditioning holds me back from vulnerability and connection

  • Deeply acknowledging, examining, and challenging my many implicit and explicit biases, fragility, limitations as well as my areas of power and privilege

  • While I am not an expert, I’m continually learning about the following areas: disability justice, polyamory, kink, neurodiversity and neuroaffirmative care, gender diversity, gender based violence, and international politics.

03. Providing A Liberatory Space

  • By paying close attention to how we develop and co-create our therapeutic relationship in terms of trust, safety, authenticity, and understanding

  • Avoid giving you unsolicited advice

    • You know yourself best, rather I will support you to uncover more of who you are, who you want to be, and what’s getting in the way so you walk toward your values

  • Naming and exploring how difference and larger systems shows up inside and outside of the therapy room

    • From within yourself to between us such as race, age, ability status, religion, socioeconomic issues, sexuality, gender, and more

  • Understanding that I am a gatekeeper in the mental health system

    • Using an informed consent model with you so you get the care you need and deserve

  • Apologizing without shame spiraling when I make a mistake, assume something, or when a rupture occurs

  • Respecting your desires, wishes, and wants by using a harm reduction approach

    • Vs. an abstinence approach

  • By continuing to participate in my own healing work as a wounded healer so I can center your stories and experiences.

04. Re-Framing

  • Normalizing behaviors, skills, tools used as methods of survival (rather than pathologizing)

  • Understanding you are not broken in any way and that perhaps it is your environment and society that is inherently broken and flawed

  • Challenging dominant social beliefs and de-centering individualistic values (we heal in community and in relationships, rarely alone)

  • Expanding notions of wellness and well-being by reconnecting to ancestral and cultural wisdom (e.g. acupuncture, cupping, breath work, yoga, reiki, qigong, dance, writing, music, etc.)

05. Modeling

Imperfection

  • While my job is to guide others toward healing, growth, and transformation, I am a deeply flawed person who is on his own journey of healing, growth, and transformation

Authenticity

  • Bringing my whole authentic self into session (rather than as an objective, neutral, blank slate who nods in silence)

Humanity

  • Self-disclosing as appropriate in session if I feel that sharing something about myself will help you feel more connected, less anxious, and ultimately useful toward your healing

Healthy Boundaries

  • We build our sense of Self through our our early childhood, culture, and society. This includes boundaries, communication styles, and how we relate to others (e.g. trust, mistrust).

  • You can expect me to set the boundaries in the beginning, so you are not confused.

  • Moreover, we can have a communication about these boundaries so they are more flexible if needed.

Ruptures

  • When I inevitably make a mistake, we can have a conversation on it rather than avoiding or ignoring it.

  • Ghosting culture is pervasive in today’s society. However, it’s my job to bring these sensitive issues up so you know that repair is possible.

  • If you decide the mistake was too painful to bear, I trust you and your ability to care for yourself, whether that means taking a break, ending therapy, or finding another therapist who might be a better fit for your needs.

Affirming Care

  • I want you know all parts of you are welcomed and accepted.

  • Your anger, rage, tears, sadness, pain, confusion, silence are all welcomed.

  • To be seen, witnessed, and believed is transformational and healing, especially for those who have not had this experience prior.

Healing Is Possible

There is hope.

Research in 2015 shows 14% of psychologists are people of color. Research in 2017 shows 27% of master’s level social workers are people of color. 

While it’s impossible to find the “perfect” therapist who shares all your identities and experiences, it is crucial to feel seen, validated, supported, and encouraged by a therapist who understands the issues you’re going through. 

I don’t assume your concerns or trauma relate to your identity. Some clients want a place to discuss the impacts of race, gender, sexuality, and faith while some clients do not. 

I enjoy working with survivors of childhood trauma, emotional neglect, grief, and attachment/developmental trauma.

I’ve worked with many survivors of childhood, attachment, and developmental trauma who now have more peace, joy, freedom in their lives.

I work with survivors of trauma who are now parents who want to parent healthier children and break the cycle of trauma.

I work with therapists and social workers who are wounded healers.

I work with professionals who feel exhausted, overwhelmed, burnt out, and want to take better care of themselves.

Reach out today to schedule a first session.

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