Therapist’s word to my Native Relations
You are Native Enough
You are fully Indigenous, whether you grew up on the rez with your auntie teaching you the traditional ways or you’re an Urban Indian reconnecting with the story of your people. Your roots are embedded in the strength of your ancestors, no matter where you’ve lived or how you’ve connected with your heritage. Whether you were raised with the teachings of your family and community or have embarked on a journey of rediscovery, your identity as Indigenous is valid, powerful, and deeply rooted in the land, culture, and traditions of your people.
This reconnection is a process, but it doesn’t diminish the deep connection that has always been there. The journey is personal, and each step you take is part of the larger story of your heritage.
We are the future - Living in a colonized world, we can carry the weight of intergenerational trauma, as well as our powerful ancestors. Often we are stuck feeling colonization and toxic conditions and are effected not only in our minds but in our bodies, spirits, and communities.
Our identity is not defined by this trauma—we are so much more. Despite the ongoing efforts to erase us, we are still here, still resilient, still capable. Our ancestors survived so we could continue to thrive, and their wisdom is carried in us.
Through the teachings of the Medicine Wheel, we understand that healing is holistic, touching every aspect of our being: mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual. We must honor all parts of ourselves in this journey, embracing the lessons from each direction of the wheel to find balance, connection, and wholeness. The traumas we’ve inherited can be transformed into medicine for ourselves and for our communities.
It’s time to free ourselves from the harmful narratives that make us feel small or “not enough” and fully embrace the beauty that Creator instilled in us. Your healing is not just for you, but for those who came before you and those who will come after. You deserve to feel joy, freedom, and pride in who you are. By reclaiming this freedom, you are helping to empower your community and contribute to the cycle of healing for future generations.
I’m here to walk with you on this journey, to see you, and help you see yourself as the incredible person you truly are—someone with the power to heal, to create, and to inspire.
Frequent asked Questions
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Yes, therapy can be a powerful tool to help you reclaim and reconnect with your cultural identity. For many Native and Indigenous people, colonization, systemic oppression, and generational trauma have disrupted cultural connections. Healing involves not just addressing personal struggles but also reconnecting with the rich heritage and traditions that are a vital part of who you are.
In therapy, we can:
• Explore the impact of intergenerational trauma while honoring the strength and resilience passed down through your ancestors.
• Create space for your cultural identity to be a central part of your healing journey, integrating traditional practices or perspectives if you choose.
• Process feelings of disconnection or loss and work toward a renewed sense of belonging and pride in your heritage.
• Navigate the complexities of living in two worlds—balancing your cultural values with modern societal pressures.
This work is deeply personal, and it’s about helping you feel whole, empowered, and rooted in who you are. Whether you’re just beginning to explore your cultural identity or you’re seeking deeper healing, therapy can support your journey.
If you’re ready to reconnect with your culture and yourself, I’m here to walk alongside you.
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Depression and anxiety can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to face them alone. For Native and Indigenous people, these struggles often carry layers of historical, cultural, and personal challenges. Colonization, systemic inequities, and intergenerational trauma can all play a role in how depression and anxiety show up, making healing feel even more complicated.
Sometimes, the roots of anxiety and depression go deeper, tied to past traumatic experiences—whether from your own life or from generational trauma passed down through your family. These experiences can leave lasting emotional imprints that shape how we feel and respond to the world.
In therapy, we can:
• Explore the roots of your feelings and how they connect to your personal story and, if relevant, your community’s history.
• Incorporate cultural strengths and traditions into your healing process, whether that’s reconnecting with ceremony, language, or other practices that bring you grounding and peace.
• Use techniques like EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to address traumatic memories or emotional wounds that may be contributing to your depression and anxiety. EMDR can help reprocess these experiences, so they no longer have the same emotional charge, allowing you to heal and move forward.
• Learn tools to manage symptoms in the moment, such as mindfulness, grounding techniques, and coping strategies that align with your values.
• Address the mental, emotional, and spiritual layers of your experience, taking a holistic approach to healing.
It’s also important to remember that your emotions don’t define your worth. Depression and anxiety can distort how you see yourself, but therapy can help you reconnect with your inner strength
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Reconnecting with your cultural roots and traditions is a deeply personal and powerful journey, one that can be shaped by the complexities of settler colonialism, displacement, and intergenerational trauma. I understand this journey intimately, as it is one I have had to take myself. I know firsthand how challenging it can be to reclaim and reconnect with one’s heritage in a world that has long sought to erase or suppress Indigenous identities.
For Native and Indigenous people, this journey is not linear and often involves navigating layers of pain, loss, and disconnection. But it is also a path to healing, resilience, and empowerment. In therapy, we can explore this journey together by:
• Understanding the role of culture in your life and how it connects to your sense of self and belonging. We’ll honor your history, traditions, and the strength of your ancestors.
• Identifying cultural practices or values that resonate with you and bring grounding, whether that’s language, ceremony, storytelling, or community involvement.
• Processing any feelings of disconnection or loss that may have arisen due to historical or personal experiences. Together, we’ll work through these emotions to help you feel more rooted in your cultural identity.
• Incorporating traditional healing practices where possible, integrating them into your therapy in a way that feels authentic and empowering.
• Addressing intergenerational trauma that may have impacted your connection to your culture, helping you heal old wounds and embrace your heritage fully.
This journey is not easy, but it is deeply meaningful. Reconnecting with your cultural roots is not only about the past—it’s about embracing the present and future, building a path forward that is deeply rooted in who you are and where you come from. If you’re ready to explore this journey of reconnection and healing, I’m here to support you every step of the way.
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Addiction is a complex issue, and for many Native and Indigenous people, it is deeply rooted in historical, cultural, and generational trauma. It can be a symptom of trying to cope with profound pain, loss, or shame—emotions that are often carried from one generation to the next. I understand how deeply this question can resonate, as addiction is not just a personal struggle, but a collective one in many Indigenous communities.
When we address addiction in therapy, we begin by recognizing that it is not simply about the behavior itself, but about what is being masked or managed through the addiction. Often, it’s a response to unresolved pain, trauma, or feelings of disconnection—whether from ourselves, our communities, or our cultural roots.
In our work together, we will:
• Understand the roots of addiction: Explore how addiction may be connected to deep personal pain, historical trauma, or systemic oppression. Understanding the “why” behind the addiction is an essential step toward healing.
• Recognize addiction as a coping mechanism: Addiction can be a way of managing overwhelming emotions or numbing pain. By acknowledging this, we can work on healthier ways to cope and heal.
• Learn about the nature of addiction: If addiction is affecting your life or the lives of those around you, we will explore what addiction truly is—how it develops, why it happens, and how it can be healed.
• Set boundaries and heal from impact: If someone else’s addiction is affecting you, it’s important to set boundaries that protect your well-being while still offering compassion. If you’re struggling with your own addiction, we’ll explore how it impacts others and how you can begin to repair those relationships.
• Address the cultural aspect of healing: Healing from addiction within Indigenous communities often includes reconnecting with cultural practices and traditions. We will explore ways to incorporate cultural healing practices, spirituality, and community support as part of your recovery journey.
Addiction doesn’t define you—it’s a symptom of a deeper pain that can be healed. Whether it’s your own addiction or the addiction of someone you care about, healing is possible when we address the underlying pain, set boundaries, and create space for recovery.
I’m here to support you through this healing process, to help you reconnect with yourself, your culture, and your community. Healing is a journey, but you don’t have to walk it alone.
