October 20, 2023

65. Decolonizing and Politicizing Our Mental Health Practice with Jennifer Mullan

1 hour 22 minutes

“Rage has many facets, and grief cannot be separated from rage.”

If you’ve worked in mental health, social work, psychology, healing or mutual aid, you’re likely very aware that this work is unsustainable and often dehumanizing. So, what can we do about it and how can we use our collective power for change? In this conversation, I get to speak with Dr. Jennifer Mullan, a force of nature and founder of Decolonizing Therapy®, a groundbreaking psychological paradigm that seamlessly integrates political, ancestral, therapeutic, and global well-being. As a major disruptor in the mental health industrial complex, Dr. Jenn's work is an urgent call to dive to the root of global and intergenerational trauma, unlocking the wisdom of our sacred rage. In this episode, we delve into the profound impact of ancestral and historical trauma, illuminating the ways in which these wounds reverberate through our collective psyche. Dr. Jenn offers invaluable insights for support workers seeking to shift and politicize their practice.

We discuss:

The profound impact of ancestral and historical trauma and what decolonizing mental health really means

How psychology was founded on the co-optation and exploitation of indigenous practices

Sacred rage as a powerful force for collective transformation

Practical guidance for navigating the complexities of being a support worker in a eurocentric, capitalist society

Why mental health can’t be separated from political and spiritual work

Bio:

Jennifer Mullan, PsyD, is a major disruptor in the mental health industrial complex. Her work is an urgent call to dive to the root of global and generational trauma to unlock the wisdom of our sacred rage. Dr. Jennifer Mullan birthed Decolonizing Therapy ®, a psychological evolution that weaves together political, ancestral, therapeutic and global well-being. She is also the creator of the popular Instagram account @decolonizingtherapy and recipient of Essence magazine’s 2020 Essential Hero Award in the category of mental health.

Links:

www.decolonizingtherapy.com

Decolonizing Therapy ® Instagram @decolonizingtherapy

Decolonizing Therapy ® Twitter @drjennyjennm

Decolonizing Therapy ® Youtube @decolonizingtherapy

Pre-order Dr. Jenn’s book here

Institute for the Development of Human Arts: www.idha-nyc.org

Transformative Mental Health Core Curriculum: https://www.idha-nyc.org/core-curriculum

Get bonus episodes on substack! ⁠⁠https://depthwork.substack.com/⁠⁠

References:

Ruth King: https://ruthking.net/

Mariel Buque : https://www.drmarielbuque.com/

People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond: https://pisab.org/

Eldridge Cleaver: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eldridge_Cleaver

Disclaimer: The DEPTH Work Podcast is for educational and entertainment purposes only. Any information on this podcast in no way to be construed or substituted as psychological counseling, psychotherapy, mental health counseling, or any other type of therapy or medical advice.

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