During the summer of 2017, I experienced a trauma that shattered my sense of safety and trust. My life split into a “before” and an “after.” What happened to me that summer was traumatic, disorienting, and deeply violating. I remember the fear, the confusion, the shame, and the two gruelling years of navigating a justice system that felt cold and clinical at a time when I needed humanity the most. I also remember the silence.

Decolonising psychotherapy means moving beyond Eurocentric, individual-focused models to include diverse cultural practices like collective healing. Many BIPOC communities process trauma through shared experiences and mutual support, which resonate deeply with their lived realities.