I help therapists, healers, and space-holders bring decolonial and liberatory values into their work—so you’re not just saying you’re aligned… you’re actually practicing it. ⬆️ More integrity, more connection, more liberation. ⬇️ Less burnout, less performative wokeness, less colonial residue. If you want a practice where marginalized clients feel safe, seen, and honored—and you want to feel more grounded and intentional in your work—subscribe and join a growing community of practitioners doing this work differently. You practice can be liberatory-- let's get you there!
True Connection in Mental Health
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Reader, As therapists and healers, we all know how important it is to build genuine connections with our clients. It’s what makes our work meaningful and impactful. But here’s the thing—too many clinicians lean on cultural competency training as a catch-all solution, and it’s ironically putting up walls between us and real understanding. The problem with cultural competency is that it often revolves around a set of fixed stereotypes, which can keep us from truly connecting with people who have a background different than ours. It’s like having a cheat sheet on someone’s culture and thinking it’s enough. Spoiler alert: it’s not! Back in grad school, we focused on Western psychology (or western —whitewashed— interpretations of Eastern philosophies), and while there’s now more emphasis on cultural humility and cultural responsiveness, we’re honestly still stuck learning basic stereotypes that supposedly define cultural groups. This approach doesn't help us genuinely connect with people or acknowledge the power imbalances and privilege that exist in our interactions. And guess what. It is not your fault that you are stuck with stupid requirements from your governing board telling you that “you must be culturally competent” via completing a 3 hour training every two years or so (and don’t get me wrong, there’s amazing people out there, with lived experience, trying to give us quality material within the oppressive bounds of our governing boards). Here's my take on cultural competency: you can learn everything there is to know about someone's culture, but it doesn’t make you competent. If you’re not aware of the gap between your experiences and your client’s, how can you really connect with them or show up authentically? I wish these eurocentric governing boards realized that true connection comes from bridging the gap between your and your clients' identities. Thanks for tuning in, hit reply cause I’d love to hear your thoughts on this! ☀️ In community, Silvana @ Decolonize Your Practice PS. Starting late this year or early next, I will be offering workshops. Click on the topic that interests you the most to make sure you are the first to know about them:
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Liberatory Letters
I help therapists, healers, and space-holders bring decolonial and liberatory values into their work—so you’re not just saying you’re aligned… you’re actually practicing it. ⬆️ More integrity, more connection, more liberation. ⬇️ Less burnout, less performative wokeness, less colonial residue. If you want a practice where marginalized clients feel safe, seen, and honored—and you want to feel more grounded and intentional in your work—subscribe and join a growing community of practitioners doing this work differently. You practice can be liberatory-- let's get you there!
Reader, A quick update on what's here: 🌻 Community Liberation Sessions. Happening this week! Sign up here. 📖 Off Script - Clinical Consultation for Practitioners Rewriting the Rules. This is clinical consultation that holds the conversations conventional supervision doesn’t make room for. Starting in the (northern) fall.If you're interested sign up here. What does togetherness look like to you these days? In the summer sometimes togetherness looks like spending time with my cats or tending to...
July 2026 | issue #9 Reader, even though we work in a profession dedicated to healing, i’ve come to realize that the way therapy is often structured can be surprisingly isolating. and that has always struck me as odd. we tell clients that healing happens in relationship. we encourage them to build meaningful connections, strengthen their communities, ask for help, and move away from isolation. we know—both through research and through lived experience—that meaningful relationships influence...
Reader, A quick update on what's here: 📖 Off Script - Clinical Consultation for Practitioners Rewriting the Rules. This is clinical consultation that holds the conversations conventional supervision doesn’t make room for. Only available during boreal summer (fancy term for northern hemisphere summer — July and August.)If you're interested sign up here. 🌻 Community Liberation Sessions. Happening next week! Sign up here. You know what doesn't get measured in CEUs? Presence: The ability to sit...