Introduction
Duran’s book outlines how colonialism and racism have shaped the experiences of indigenous people, leading to systemic wounds that can affect every aspect of their lives. He also covers topics such as cultural safety, community-based healing practices, and the importance of self-determination. This book as a whole provides an invaluable resource to mental health counselors working with Indigenous communities and a valuable way of understanding the complex issues they face. In chapter 2, the author examines traditional healing models in Native American cultures such as healing circles. Duran (2019) emphasizes the necessity of establishing relationships between healers and people needing assistance to create a more successful therapeutic environment. Due to cultural misconceptions between clients and therapists and power imbalances, Duran accepts that merging ancient healing techniques with contemporary psychotherapy techniques is frequently challenging. Duran believes that therapists dealing with Indigenous populations must acknowledge their prejudices or preconceived conceptions as well as their cultural background to guarantee a holistic approach to each individual.
Critical Questions
The following questions are fundamental to guiding the analysis and discussion on this topic:
- What is transference, and how does the author contextualize it?
- How are therapists perpetrators of historical trauma even though their work is to address this issue?
- How can therapists reconsider their work working with Indigenous communities to realize the best outcome?
Transference Toward Original People
Duran explains the notion of transference toward original persons in the first subject. He describes transference as the unconscious process through which a person feels sentiments and attitudes toward a person in their present life that they once felt for an important figure in their past (Duran, 2019). He explains further that this transference can manifest itself in various ways. These include judging others harshly or being overly critical of them, clinging too tightly to cultural practices, being excessively aggressive or passive-aggressive towards authority figures, or even ignoring the feelings and needs of others.
Furthermore, the author argues that transference can be compounded by the fact that many Indigenous peoples have been so profoundly impacted by oppression and trauma that it has been embedded in their collective identity. Therefore, counsellors need to know this dynamic while dealing with Indigenous clients since it might influence how they respond to particular situations and how they feel about themselves and their community. In addition, according to Duran, transference frequently results in a lack of trust between community members and counsellors, which has substantial consequences for delivering effective therapy and establishing lasting connections with clients.
In addition, Duran emphasizes the significance of acknowledging the influence of past trauma on transference toward Indigenous people in Indigenous communities. To give appropriate therapeutic assistance, he emphasizes the need for counsellors to understand the environment in which trauma appears. Rather than relying solely on Western treatment models, he urges practitioners to carefully consider how to address underlying issues using culturally sensitive approaches, such as traditional methods or healing circles. Counsellors may create closer relationships with their clients and assist them in recovering from traumatic events they may have had in the past by recognizing and correctly resolving transference towards original people within Indigenous communities.
Diagnosis as a Naming Ceremony
The second topic of chapter two examines diagnosis as a naming ritual from an Indigenous point of view. Duran argues that diagnosing mental health disorders and trauma in Indigenous populations frequently involves an additional layer of complexity. He adds that many Indigenous people perceive their mental health difficulties as spiritual issues that must be resolved via traditional healing rites and practices (Duran, 2019). Therefore, Duran suggests that practitioners working with Indigenous clients should consider approaching diagnosis as a naming ceremony honouring the individual’s lived experiences and acknowledging their spiritual needs (Duran, 2019). He argues that by building a connection between Western medicine and traditional healing traditions, practitioners may encourage patients to take a more active part in their own treatment and recovery.
In addition, the author emphasizes the significance of using non-judgmental language when discussing diagnoses with Indigenous individuals. According to him, using terms such as illness and disease can quickly become stigmatizing for clients who may not identify with Western definitions of illness and disease. By reframing diagnoses within an Indigenous framework, for instance, by using the term spiritual crisis instead of mental disease, practitioners may create a place where clients feel secure sharing their stories without fear of judgment.
Therapists as perpetrators of historical trauma
The third topic of this chapter explores how therapists frequently inadvertently inflict harm on Indigenous people owing to their lack of awareness or appreciation of Indigenous culture, language, and beliefs. They may be unfamiliar with the symptoms and behaviours linked with previous trauma. Additionally, they may have little regard for traditional healing techniques and kinds of therapy that honour Indigenous culture and history (Duran, 2019). The author also notes that a lack of cultural sensitivity during counselling sessions can make clients feel alienated. In particular, the therapist may fail to acknowledge the significance of Indigenous customs in their life, resulting in a mismatch between client and counsellor. The therapist may also be biased towards particular groups or cultural norms, which may result in sentiments of anger, distrust, or rejection.
This section further emphasizes the significance of cultural humility throughout the document, particularly concerning providing safe spaces for trauma survivors who are already feeling vulnerable. The stresses are that counsellors should avoid making assumptions about their clients’ experiences based on stereotypes or generalizations while recognizing their societal oppressions when necessary (Duran, 2019). This will aid in ensuring clients feel heard, appreciated, and seen within the therapeutic interaction.
Additionally, Duran offers various strategies counsellors might take while working with Indigenous survivors of mental health issues. They include establishing rapport via active listening, displaying a willingness to learn about diverse cultures, avoiding jargon, recognizing power dynamics, and being mindful of nonverbal communication. Other fundamental strategies include the use of Indigenous approaches whenever possible, the creation of safety protocols in advance, the expression of empathy, the validation of experiences, the provision of spiritual guidance when requested, and the maintenance of confidentiality. Respecting boundaries, normalizing emotions, and educating oneself on racism, poverty, and societal oppression are also on the list.
Clinical Racism in Indian Country
This chapter concludes with a discussion of clinical racism, a form of institutionalized racism that manifests in healthcare settings. Various researchers have demonstrated that this type of racism has long-lasting negative effects on Indigenous communities, such as decreased access to quality healthcare, cultural alienation, and lower levels of trust among members of these communities (Sim et al. 2021). The author notes that this type of discrimination can manifest in various ways, including inadequate medical training regarding particular cultural practices, inappropriate language used during medical encounters, and inadequate consideration of traditional healing practices.
The author argues that one critical strategy to prevent clinical racism is to prepare healthcare workers with the culturally sensitive tools and abilities required to give successful treatment to Native Americans. In addition, he proposes enhancing healthcare professional education regarding past trauma and its role in worsening physical and psychological health inequities across these communities (Duran, 2019). Additional interventions may include involving Native leaders in community consultation, which would help build trust between community members and healthcare providers and provide equal access to relevant mental health services (Andrasik, 2021). In addition, it would be crucial to develop tactics that allow Indigenous cultures to express themselves via art, music, and other forms of expression in medical settings. Finally, by understanding the history of clinical racism in Indian country and proactively combating it, healthcare providers can create an environment where Native American patients feel safe receiving care.
Conclusion
Chapter two thoroughly assessed the past, present, and future of trauma-informed counselling techniques in Indigenous communities. The author discussed how colonialism and its accompanying oppressions have resulted in major mental health inequalities among Indigenous people and analyzed the prevalence of trauma among these vulnerable populations. In addition, he proposed strategies for culturally appropriate interventions that counsellors can use to help Indigenous individuals work through their experiences with historical trauma and create new avenues for self-healing and wellness. By understanding how long-standing systemic issues can contribute to mental health distress among Indigenous populations, counsellors are better equipped to develop holistic treatment plans that respect individual needs while promoting community healing.
Reference
Andrasik, M. P., Broder, G. B., Wallace, S. E., Chaturvedi, R., Michael, N. L., Bock, S.,… & Mensah, G. A. (2021). Increasing Black, Indigenous and People of Color participation in clinical trials through community engagement and recruitment goal establishment. PloS one, 16(10), e0258858. Web.
Duran, E. (2019). Healing the soul wound: Trauma-informed counseling for Indigenous communities. Teachers College Press.
Sim, W., Lim, W. H., Ng, C. H., Chin, Y. H., Yaow, C. Y. L., Cheong, C. W. Z., Khoo, C.M., Samarasekera, D.D., Devi, M.K., & Chong, C. S. (2021). The perspectives of health professionals and patients on racism in healthcare: A qualitative systematic review. PLoS One, 16(8), e0255936. Web.