CE Event: Examining the Impact of Colonization on Mental Health Practices
DESCRIPTION:
This small group CE event is limited to 15 participants to allow for group safety and cohesiveness as we explore the role of colonization within mental health and ourselves as therapists trained in a colonized system.
The decolonization of mental health practices is complex, yet essential to the healing process within ourselves, clients, and our systems. These are processes affecting everyone whether it’s conscious or unconscious. Bringing awareness to our location in colonization can support us in our decolonization journeys. Components of decolonization include recognizing how colonization has impacted everything around us, unpacking our own ways of existing and thinking as mental health professionals.
Part 1 focuses on fostering a deeper examination of colonization in our ecological systems, specifically the mental health system. There is a focus on our internalization of colonization practices and how we can uproot or challenge processes that do not feel aligned to client-centered work. We also begin to explore our relationship to colonization both personally and professionally.
Part 2 will continue with this exploration, and the impact on healing/connection to ourselves and others. Participants will be encouraged to examine their own place in the colonialist mentality through exploration of thoughts, values, and biases using reflective exercises, and small group discussion. Participants will also be given the space to explore connection to self, or coming back home to self through a series of experiential practices.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
- Participants will be able to define implicit bias, colonization, and decolonization in the mental health field
- Participants will be able to identify at least two examples of the impact of colonization in mental health practices
- Participants will learn how to apply a decolonial mentality through the use of case studies
- Participants will explore their intersection of identities and their own relationship to implicit bias and colonization
- Participants will explore ways to deepen connection to self/others and interrupt colonial mentality
CE's are sponsored by Centered Therapy Chicago -
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Additional Details
Victoria Doobay, Ph.D. is a licensed clinical psychologist, supervisor, and clinical training manager at DePaul Family and Community Services (FCS). She is also a registered yoga teacher, graduated from Bloom Yoga Studio; she teaches in various community spaces. She obtained her Master’s and Doctoral degrees at the School/Applied Child Psychology program at McGill University, in Montreal, Canada. At FCS, Victoria provides individual, family, and group therapy to children, adolescents, and families both in the clinic and community settings, as well as supervises graduate students. She also conducts and supervises psychological assessments.
Victoria holds a growth mindset in regards to the mental health field, and is an active advocate for decolonization practices and training both within and outside FCS. Victoria provides support from a decolonial perspective incorporating various healing modalities for mind, body, and spirit, such as mindfulness, yoga and body awareness/movement, and art/music expression. Victoria is also a lifelong learner dedicated to unpacking the internalization of colonization within herself.