What Does “Decolonizing Therapy” Really Mean? By Rachel Mochizuki, AMFT
You may have heard the phrase “decolonizing therapy,” but what does that actually look like in practice? As a therapist who’s learning and growing alongside my clients, I think of it as reimagining therapy in a way that honors people’s full humanity, histories, and cultures—not just fitting them into a mold built by colonial systems.
Here are a few ways I try to embody that:
Naming systemic oppression: So many of us carry stress, anxiety, and burnout that aren’t just personal—they’re rooted in the systems we live in. I had a client who felt broken by how hard she was working just to get by. Over time, she realized her anxiety wasn’t a flaw; it was a signal that capitalism was asking too much, not that she wasn’t enough.
Honoring cultural norms: Sometimes therapists label clients as “disordered” or “not normal” for behaviors that are completely normal within their culture. I once had a therapist tell me I had “severe social anxiety” because I was always thinking of others’ needs, which is something that’s actually valued in my Japanese upbringing. It left me feeling misunderstood instead of supported, since it was normal in my community and family, but not “normal” to this therapist.
Moving beyond Western models: Modalities like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy can be helpful, but they often focus on individual change without considering how healing is relational. Also, most theories us therapists are taught come from white, cis-het men, so including a client’s cultural wisdom and other alternative healing modalities can be beneficial too! I love using body-based practices like breathwork and mindfulness to support clients more holistically to include not just in their thoughts, but their bodies and relationships in therapy too.
Shifting the power dynamic: Therapy can be healing when it feels like a collaboration, not a hierarchy. I’m here with knowledge, yes, but my clients are the experts of their own stories. When we work together, trust deepens, and so progress in therapy! Calling out the inherent power dynamic as a therapist with a client can be a great way to decolonize the process of therapy too.
Embracing community healing: We’re not meant to do this alone! Therapy can include relationships that matter, like incorporating friends, family, chosen community, because connection is where so much of our healing lives.
While colonialism still shows up everywhere (especially here in the U.S.), I believe we can create more liberating spaces, together as a community :) I’d love to hear your thoughts and comments down below!