Critical Cultural Competence

2014invisiblewounds.ppt

Invisible Wounds of Oppression

Historical trauma

Cumulative emotional and psychological wounding across generations that historically traumatic events have had, and are still having, on a community.
Prejudice, discrimination, lack of equal treatment trigger body’s stress response
They are an assault on our sense of safety and right to exist in the world

Oppression

Primary Level – Oppression

Requires physical presence of an oppressor
Some discernible power difference
Differential access to resources
Some presence of physical threat
Has power to transform being to things – process of objectification. Stripped of sense of humanity
Oppressed are stripped of ability to frame their own experiences
Silence is hallmark

Secondary Level -- Oppression

Have internalized oppression

Mistreat self

Devaluation Dilemmas

Invisible wounds of oppression

Devaluation

Silence

Learned helplessness

Rage

Self-hate

Generalized suspiciousness

Orientation toward survival

With secondary oppression, we’re so outraged that we often collude.
This means we judge or criticize or punish the behavior rather than empathizing
Our job: understand how the behavior is adaptive, even when the behavior is not o.k.
We confuse validation with agreement. Can I stretch my understanding to validation?
Can’t reach someone unless we validate.

Therapy with invisible wounds
of oppression

Acknowledge that invisible wounds exist
Use a wider angle lens that includes dynamics of privilege and oppresion (not just life cycle and family-of-origin)
Resist either/or thinking. Honor complexity
VCR Model:
Validate (needs and feelings)
Challenge (behaviors)
Request (change in some way)

Therapy with invisible wounds
of oppression