Reader, For the last three of weeks I've shared with you the 7 steps to bridge the gap between your and your client’s identities. There are 7 steps to bridging the Gap:
This week I am unpacking step 4, Acknowledging Power Dynamics: Acknowledging Power Dynamics: Navigating Power for Equitable Therapy Recognizing and addressing power dynamics in therapy is vital to decolonizing mental health. In traditional therapeutic relationships, the therapist typically holds significant power due to their expertise and authority. Add to that factors like race, gender, socioeconomic background, and cultural context (if these are present), and the power imbalance can grow even larger. It’s crucial for therapists and healers to acknowledge whatever inherent privilege they have, while giving clients a true sense of agency. To effectively address power dynamics, therapists/healers should:
What does Acknowledging Power Dynamics have to with Decolonizing the Mental Health and Wellness Industrial Complex? In short, understanding and addressing power dynamics is essential for fostering trust and creating a space that is truly equitable, not just in theory but in practice. This goes BEYOND recognizing and sharing the power, but knowing from the get go that:
How are you Acknowledging Power Dynamics in your healing space? Hit reply and let me know! (I really want to know!) I’ll tell you more about step 5 of Bridging the Gap (Commit to Ongoing Learning) in the next weeks. ☀️ In community, Silvana @ Decolonize Your Practice PS. Starting next year I will be offering workshops on the various ways of having inclusive and affirming practices🔥 not causing unintended harm to our clients ❤️🩹 and healing in community 💫
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I help clinicians, healers, and coaches incorporate decolonized and liberatory values in their practices so that you can have a practice and/or service-based business that is truly affirming and welcoming to clients who hold marginalized identities.
Reader, For the last three of weeks I’ve shared with you the 7 steps to bridge the gap between your and your client’s identities. There are 7 steps to bridging the Gap: Self-Reflection ✔️ Listening Actively ✔️ Building Authentic Relationships ✔️ Acknowledging Power Dynamics ✔️ Commit to Ongoing Learning Memorizing is not the same as understanding Compassion over empathy This week I am unpacking step 5, Commit to Ongoing Learning: Committing to Ongoing Learning is about recognizing that...
Reader, For the las two weeks I've introduced you to the 7 steps to bridge the gap between your and your client’s identities. There are 7 steps to bridging the Gap: Self-Reflection ✔️ Listening Actively ✔️ Building Authentic Relationships Acknowledging Power Dynamics Commit to Ongoing Learning: Memorizing is not the same as understanding Compassion over empathy This week I am unpacking step 3, Building Authentic Relationships: Building Authentic Relationships: Understanding the Client’s World...
Reader, For the las two weeks I've introduced you to the 7 steps to bridge the gap between your and your client’s identities. There are 7 steps to bridging the Gap: Self-Reflection ✔️ Listening Actively Building Authentic Relationships Acknowledging Power Dynamics Commit to Ongoing Learning: Memorizing is not the same as understanding Compassion over empathy This week I am unpacking step 2, Listening Actively: Yes, we learned active listening in grad school. It is "the process of listening...