Reciprocal Impact: Indigenous Reconciliation and Trauma-Informed Counselling

Sponsors: CNPS Social Justice committee, the Educational and Counselling Psychology and Special Education Department (ECPS) of the UBC Faculty of Education, and Green College

Reconciliation is a joint interpersonal process where one dialogues with the offender(s) about what happened, expressing hurt, exchanging stories, listening for remorse, and beginning the process of re-establishing trust. Natasha Wawrykow will share her perspective on the implications and implementation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada directives within psychology and how she promotes reconciliation between the field of psychology and Indigenous Peoples in her teaching, supervision, and practice. Christine Chee will discuss and visually represent historical and intergenerational trauma experienced by peoples native to North America, along with her work using counselling as the basis for helping Indigenous clients to address and overcome the impact of significant trauma.

At the University of Victoria, Dr. Wawrykow teaches a course entitled: Promoting Reconciliation Between the Field of Psychology and Indigenous Peoples, a platform for learning and dialoguing about the harms done to Indigenous Peoples in Canada. At the Albuquerque Veterans Center, Dr. Chee conducts psychological assessments, counselling and psychotherapy, and outreach with indigenous communities in New Mexico. An important aim of this shared presentation is the development of knowledge that will aid in moving forward toward reconciliation and prosperity among indigenous persons and communities.

Uy’ skweyul. My name is Dr. Natasha Wawrykow, from the Skuppah Band in the Interior of British Columbia. I am an Assistant Professor in Clinical Psychology at the University of Victoria. I strive to pursue collaborative Indigenous community-driven counselling opportunities that promote reconciliation and prosperity for the Indigenous community. My research highlights Indigenous ways of healing and fostering self-worth, and contributes to culturally sensitive delivery of clinical service and conduct of research. My teaching focuses on promoting reconciliation between the field of psychology and Indigenous Peoples

Working with Indigenous Peoples in hospital, community, and university counselling clinics has affirmed my use of Narrative Therapy in my clinical practice. Sharing knowledge through storytelling has always been part of Indigenous Peoples’ tradition, and using narratives therapeutically aids in understanding how health can be experienced holistically for Indigenous Peoples and promotes strong, culturally appropriate therapeutic alliances. I look forward to joining you via zoom from the traditional territory of the Lekwungen, Songhees, Esquimalt and WSÁNEC peoples whose historical relationships with the land continue to this day. I encourage you to reflect and acknowledge the traditional land from which you will be joining while we meet together in the virtual space. Huy ch q’u.k

Dr. Christine L. Chee is a member of the Navajo Nation, bilingual in Navajo and English. Dr. Chee completed her Ph.D. at Arizona State University. She is a licensed Counseling Psychologist certified in providing evidenced based Prolonged Exposure (PE) Therapy and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Dr. Chee worked within the Women’s Stress Disorder Treatment Team Clinic for the New Mexico Veterans Affairs Health Care System from 2008 through 2020, providing assessments and individual/group therapy to help female veteran patients address challenges they face after experiencing trauma. In March 2020, she transferred to the Albuquerque Vet Center to continue providing assessments, individual/group therapy, and outreach/clinical care to indigenous communities in New Mexico. She has experience with individual/family therapy, evidence-based group therapy, and culturally responsive program evaluation with veteran patients and indigenous communities. She has worked with a team of evaluators to conceptualize culturally responsive program evaluation and coordinated three National Science Foundation grant projects. Her areas of interest include PTSD, PE Therapy, CPT, cross-cultural mental health, healing interventions and mental health in indigenous populations, culturally responsive program evaluation, and psychological well-being. In 2013, the American Psychological Association awarded her the Outstanding Early Career Award for Ethnic Minority Psychologists in Trauma Psychology.

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Topic: Reciprocal Impact: Indigenous Reconciliation and Trauma-Informed Counselling
Time: Oct 8, 2020 05:00 PM Pacific Time (US and Canada)

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