Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars | 89 ratings

Price: 18.8

Last update: 10-08-2024


About this item

A call to action for therapists to politicize their practice through an emotional decolonial lens.

An essential work that centers colonial and historical trauma in a framework for healing, Decolonizing Therapy illuminates that all therapy is—and always has been—inherently political. To better understand the mental health oppression and institutional violence that exists today, we must become familiar with the root of disembodiment from our histories, homelands, and healing practices. Only then will listeners see how colonial, historical, and intergenerational legacies have always played a role in the treatment of mental health.

This book is the emotional companion and guide to decolonization. It is an invitation for Eurocentrically trained clinicians to acknowledge privileged and oppressed parts while relearning what we thought we knew. Ignoring collective global trauma makes delivering effective therapy impossible; not knowing how to interrogate privilege (as a therapist, client, or both) makes healing elusive; and shying away from understanding how we as professionals may be participating in oppression is irresponsible.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.


Top reviews from the United States

AutenticaPT
5.0 out of 5 stars A must read!
Reviewed in the United States on October 3, 2024
I couldn’t put this book down until I was done! As a trauma therapist who wasn’t born or raised in the US but has lived here for the last 26 years, this book brings a breath of fresh air, hope and excitement for the future of mental health and trauma healing.

This book confirms many of my own intuitions and perspectives that I developed as I went to mental health graduate school and gained experience working with clients for the last 12 years. At that time it’d have been blasphemy to share these intuitions with fellow students, professors and supervisors. Or I was just at the wrong places…

I’m so glad Dr. Mullan dared to look, investigate, experience and share beyond the status quo of psychology and mental health in this country (US) and pretty much the entire world.

I appreciate Dr. Mullan’s scientific, spiritual, energetic, historical, humanistic, somatic, expressive arts and community healing lenses.

We’re complex beings with complex histories and needs. The status quo of mental health and trauma healing falls short of looking at all of the lenses necessary to help a human being restore and go back home to inner and outer whole health and human connection.

Dr. Mullan’s book is revolutionary and much needed. We need a deep change in our mental health system. Start contributing to it by reading Dr. Mullan’s book!
The Alchemist
5.0 out of 5 stars Landmark Treatise at the Right Time
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2023
Rage and Grief have taught me to address the root of the wound!!! Jennifer Mullan's "Decolonizing Therapy" is nothing short of a groundbreaking masterpiece that challenges the very foundations of traditional therapy and demands a long-overdue reckoning with the systemic issues that have plagued the mental health field for far too long.

Mullan's work is a courageous exploration of the intersections of mental health, race, and power. With meticulous research and a deeply compassionate voice, she delves into the ways in which therapy, as it exists today, has been a tool of oppression for marginalized communities. Through the lens of decolonization, Mullan eloquently exposes how Eurocentric ideals have shaped therapeutic practices, often pathologizing and alienating those whose experiences fall outside the dominant narrative.

What sets "Decolonizing Therapy" apart is its unapologetic call to action. Mullan not only deconstructs the problematic aspects of therapy but offers a roadmap for change. She invites both therapists and clients to engage in a collective journey toward healing and transformation. By centering the voices and experiences of people of color, she advocates for a more inclusive and equitable mental health landscape.

One of the most profound aspects of Mullan's work is her notion of "owning your rage." She argues that marginalized individuals have every right to be angry at a system that has perpetuated their suffering. Rather than suppressing this anger, Mullan encourages individuals to harness it as a catalyst for change. She sees rage not as a destructive force but as a powerful tool for dismantling oppressive structures and demanding justice.

Mullan's writing is a powerful blend of academic rigor and heartfelt storytelling. She weaves together personal anecdotes, historical context, and contemporary examples to illustrate her points. Her words are a rallying cry for mental health practitioners to examine their biases, challenge their assumptions, and actively work to dismantle oppressive structures within their field.

"Decolonizing Therapy" is a must-read for anyone invested in the future of mental health care. It is a testament to the resilience of marginalized communities and a reminder that healing can only truly begin when we confront the roots of our collective trauma. Jennifer Mullan's work is a beacon of hope, lighting the way toward a more just and compassionate approach to therapy for all, and her notion of "owning your rage" is a transformative concept that can empower individuals to reclaim their agency and demand the change they deserve.
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The Alchemist
5.0 out of 5 stars Landmark Treatise at the Right Time
Reviewed in the United States on November 29, 2023
Rage and Grief have taught me to address the root of the wound!!! Jennifer Mullan's "Decolonizing Therapy" is nothing short of a groundbreaking masterpiece that challenges the very foundations of traditional therapy and demands a long-overdue reckoning with the systemic issues that have plagued the mental health field for far too long.

Mullan's work is a courageous exploration of the intersections of mental health, race, and power. With meticulous research and a deeply compassionate voice, she delves into the ways in which therapy, as it exists today, has been a tool of oppression for marginalized communities. Through the lens of decolonization, Mullan eloquently exposes how Eurocentric ideals have shaped therapeutic practices, often pathologizing and alienating those whose experiences fall outside the dominant narrative.

What sets "Decolonizing Therapy" apart is its unapologetic call to action. Mullan not only deconstructs the problematic aspects of therapy but offers a roadmap for change. She invites both therapists and clients to engage in a collective journey toward healing and transformation. By centering the voices and experiences of people of color, she advocates for a more inclusive and equitable mental health landscape.

One of the most profound aspects of Mullan's work is her notion of "owning your rage." She argues that marginalized individuals have every right to be angry at a system that has perpetuated their suffering. Rather than suppressing this anger, Mullan encourages individuals to harness it as a catalyst for change. She sees rage not as a destructive force but as a powerful tool for dismantling oppressive structures and demanding justice.

Mullan's writing is a powerful blend of academic rigor and heartfelt storytelling. She weaves together personal anecdotes, historical context, and contemporary examples to illustrate her points. Her words are a rallying cry for mental health practitioners to examine their biases, challenge their assumptions, and actively work to dismantle oppressive structures within their field.

"Decolonizing Therapy" is a must-read for anyone invested in the future of mental health care. It is a testament to the resilience of marginalized communities and a reminder that healing can only truly begin when we confront the roots of our collective trauma. Jennifer Mullan's work is a beacon of hope, lighting the way toward a more just and compassionate approach to therapy for all, and her notion of "owning your rage" is a transformative concept that can empower individuals to reclaim their agency and demand the change they deserve.
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Kayla Stansberry (Fatpositivetherapist)
5.0 out of 5 stars ALL WHITE PROVIDERS & HEALERS SHOULD READ THIS!
Reviewed in the United States on February 12, 2024
As a white and American trained therapist, this book was incredibly important to my continued development in the mental health field. Dr. Mullan gently guides you through the deeply painful parts of colonized history and explores how this continues to impact us today in generational trauma. Her insight and exploration into the negative ramifications of capitalism and our fixation on individualism is just what this field needs to revive itself.

We should all be reading this book. We all need to see the gravity of the impacts of harm. And even as white people, we must look into our own heritage as a form of community and healing. This book isn't about shame but about forgiveness and liberation. Thank you for this book!
Strengthening paths, counseling and consultation, PLLC
5.0 out of 5 stars A much needed book in the modern therapy world
Reviewed in the United States on November 10, 2023
I want to first apologize as I accidentally clicked one star review is helpful when an absolutely is not helpful. What I will say is I was excited for months for this book and a pun. Even reading the initial chapter, it is important to realize that books like these take up the space in the counseling field, which is decidedly. You're eccentric but does not have interventions that specifically address communities of color. I believe that this will be a landmark text and making treatment accessible for all people of various demographics. The review of Mr. Pope is not one that should be subscribed. This is a fantastic book and should be on every clinicians bookshelf, not just the clinicians of color. Fantastic work so far and I look forward to incorporating this into my practice!
Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Should be required reading for every therapist
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2024
Fantastic book. Easy to read, little technical jargon. Difficult to read if you plan on confronting your own “stuff”.
Kirsten Sharp
5.0 out of 5 stars Read and dismantle
Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2024
Its a really good book that will bring you anger and joy simultaneously
The Seattle School of Theology & Psychology
4.0 out of 5 stars Great book - the delivery person left much to be desired.
Reviewed in the United States on July 9, 2024
Editing my review - the book is a valuable resource for our library. My inital 1-star review was for the delivery of it as shown below. I'm sorry for the negative impact it may have had on the perception of the book itself.

The book is great, but the delivery person came after the building was closed and just left the package outside our building on the sidewalk (in downtown Seattle). Amazingly, it was still there when we came in this morning at 7:30.
Sunny
5.0 out of 5 stars Fundamentally changing the way I work
Reviewed in the United States on December 2, 2023
I'm so grateful for this book. A lot of people will read the first few pages and never finish it. Others will read it cover to cover. Without even finishing the first chapter, this book had me re-conceptualizing my work, not just with people of color, but with all clients. I even re wrote my consent forms! Thank you for this book. As an emerging clinical supervisor, this is going high up on my list of material to teach.

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