Reader,

Q (from a therapist):

I'm wondering how therapists who are decolonizing their practices are shifting from diagnosis and documenting things in an intake note or treatment plan where the diagnosis would typically go... the tools I have in my EHR are not set up for this and need to be reimagined but for the time being while using the system of an EHR with an intake note of a biopsychosocial assessment and history of symptoms with a diagnosis summing it up, and then the diagnosis leading the treatment plan, and those informing the case notes, I'm struggling since I really don't want to continue this format but don't have another way at this time.

A:

As fas as I know there are no EHRs (the platforms most health providers use) that are anti-oppressive. You may find a couple that are aware of people’s pronouns and gender; maybe some have space for you to thoroughly select your race and/or ethinicity. But we know this is far away from being decolonial.

If you are doing therapy (or providing a service) within the existing mental health and wellness industrial complex, chances are you have felt the push back from an oppressive system telling you how to document, treat, and diagnose (in a way that blames your client).

Reimagining is a key word here. Have you heard of Radical Imagination? Radical Imagination is the idea (and fact) that we exist within a reality that someone imagined, but it’s a reality that does not take into account my marginalized identities. Therefore, can’t I radically imagine a new liberatory reality that takes into account ALL, especially people who are currently minoritized? We may not get to this in our lifetime, but we can start building it.

And in the meantime? In the meantime I propose that you resist from within. Next time you are diagnosing (because your agency asks you to, or because you work with a health insurance) remember that this may the only way for people to get access to healing. Remember that it is the oppressive system that wants you to feel guilty for using it, when in reality some therapists and healers have no other immediate option but to work (and resist) within the current system.

Also, see my previous email for other ways of resisting from within.

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The free monthly Q&A sessions (a.k.a. Decolonized Consultation Sessions) are back

If you participated last year, you are automatically signed (but can opt out here if this is not the right time).

🌈 These are 55-min Q&A sessions where you get to ask all the questions you have about decolonizing and liberating your therapy, healing, and/or wellness practice. You get to create community as the group will also offer feedback and suggestions that have worked for them. These groups are a wealth of communal knowledge!

Some of the topics we’ve covered:

☀️ Building a decolonized mental health or wellness practice

☀️ Anti-oppressive paperwork

☀️ Inclusive treatment

☀️ Decolonizing yourself to decolonize your practice

☀️ Existing and resisting within the mental health industrial complex and wellness complex

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If you have not joined yet, you can sign up below:

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In community,

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Silvana @ Decolonize Your Practice​

PS.

If you are new to this newsletter, you can read previous newsletter posts here.

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Let's connect!