Decolonizing Therapy: What It Looks Like in Session
When you think of therapy, you might envision a classic talk therapy session with a counselor who asks you questions and helps you process your emotions. While this approach is effective for many, it doesn’t always consider the broader cultural and systemic influences shaping our mental health. For individuals from marginalized or immigrant backgrounds, traditional therapy models can feel incomplete or disconnected from their lived experiences.
This is where decolonized therapy comes in—a holistic, culturally sensitive approach that not only addresses personal struggles but also acknowledges and actively challenges systemic oppression, historical trauma, and cultural disconnects. Decolonizing therapy aims to center your unique experiences, validate your cultural identity, and honor your ancestral wisdom while fostering healing and growth.
What Does Decolonized Therapy Look Like in Practice?
In a session rooted in decolonized therapy, the work goes beyond the individual. It focuses on the interplay between the personal and the systemic, weaving together techniques that acknowledge cultural heritage, spirituality, and the broader impact of societal structures. Here’s how it might show up:
1. Integrating Cultural Practices
Your cultural practices and traditions are essential to your identity. In session, we might explore:
Using ancestral rituals, such as prayer, storytelling, or meditation, as part of your healing.
Incorporating movement or art inspired by your cultural heritage to process emotions and connect with your body.
Discussing the role of community in your life and how it can serve as a resource for support and belonging.
2. Naming and Challenging Oppression
Systemic oppression can deeply impact mental health. In a decolonized therapy session, we create a space to:
Unpack how racism, sexism, or colonialism has influenced your life and self-perception.
Identify internalized biases or narratives that stem from societal pressures and reframe them to align with your authentic self.
Develop tools to resist and navigate oppressive systems while preserving your well-being.
For instance, we might explore how perfectionism can be a survival response to systemic inequality and work to shift toward self-compassion instead.
3. Reconnecting to Ancestral Wisdom
Healing isn’t just about the present—it’s also about reconnecting with the wisdom and strength of those who came before you. Therapy might involve:
Exploring your family’s history to identify generational patterns and strengths.
Using grounding techniques that draw on your ancestors’ practices, like walking barefoot on the earth or engaging in cultural expressions like dance or drumming.
Reframing ancestral narratives to recognize resilience rather than shame or deficit.
4. Somatic and Embodied Practices
Colonial ideologies often separate the mind, body, and spirit, but healing requires integration. Somatic approaches in decolonized therapy include:
Practicing body scans or mindful breathing to increase awareness of how oppression or trauma manifests physically.
Using movement-based therapy to release stored tension and reconnect with your body’s wisdom.
Cultivating safety within your body by challenging harmful narratives about appearance or worth rooted in oppressive systems.
5. Decentering Eurocentric Norms
Many traditional therapy models are rooted in Western norms that don’t always resonate with individuals from diverse backgrounds. Decolonized therapy actively challenges this by:
Validating your experiences even if they don’t fit traditional diagnostic frameworks.
Redefining “progress” or “success” based on your personal goals and cultural values.
Prioritizing relational and spiritual healing alongside emotional and cognitive work.
Why Does This Matter?
Decolonized therapy is more than a set of techniques—it’s a shift in perspective. It centers your lived experience, honors your culture, and works to dismantle the harmful effects of systemic oppression on your mental health. This approach doesn’t just help you cope; it empowers you to reclaim your narrative and redefine healing on your terms.
How Therapy Can Help
Decolonized therapy provides a compassionate, culturally affirming space to address trauma, anxiety, depression, or other challenges while honoring your identity. As a therapist trained in this approach, I’ll support you in reconnecting to your roots, navigating systemic barriers, and building a more authentic relationship with yourself and the world.
If this resonates, let’s work together to honor your journey and create a healing space tailored to you. Schedule a free consultation today to begin your path toward liberation and wholeness.
