In psychotherapy, understanding cultural, legacy, and collective burdens is crucial. These burdens encompass historical traumas, familial narratives, and societal expectations. Generational trauma and cultural dynamics play a significant role, alongside secrecy and shame, in perpetuating these burdens. As therapists, it is important to recognize and work through the subtle indicators of these burdens carried in individuals, including those stemming from racism, patriarchy, and perfectionism; to facilitate transformative healing in our clients. At this workshop, we also learn to explore how our own cultural perspectives and conflict styles that we bring to our work, impact communication and how to effectively connect across cultural, class and racial differences in our clinical settings. Legacy burdens hinder the collaborative and non-judgemental approach that is key to a strong therapist-client relationship. When we better understand legacy burdens and learn to work through them, we greatly increase our efficacy to resolve emotional wounds, traumas and to facilitate transformative release and healing in our clients.

Protective parts are vital in navigating and safeguarding against emotional traumas. Addressing their concerns and fears empathetically is key to establishing trust. Using specialized parts-work techniques, therapists can navigate protective systems, fostering cooperation and paving the way for deeper exploration. IFS is a non-pathologizing therapeutic model that helps our clients to address those parts of themselves that are reactive to issues involving racism and oppression. With compassion, curiosity and parts-work therapy, we can help our clients to release and heal from stuck patterns of behaviour that constrain them and restrict their world view.

Especially when working with marginalized clients, therapists must tailor interventions to their unique challenges. Cultivating cultural competence ensures therapeutic interactions are inclusive and empowering. By acknowledging diverse experiences, therapists can co-create healing spaces that honour identity and resilience. Through a nuanced application of internal parts-work techniques, we will learn how clients can navigate legacy, cultural identity, and personal healing with strength and agency.

Through didactic instruction, experiential exercises, and case vignettes, this workshop provides a comprehensive toolkit for therapists and healing professionals seeking to facilitate profound transformations in their clients’ lives. By illuminating the path towards healing legacy and cultural burdens, practitioners embark on a journey towards deeper understanding, empathy, and social change.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss cultural, legacy, and collective burdens within the context of psychotherapy, including their origins, manifestations, and perpetuating factors
• Assess subtle indicators of cultural and legacy burdens in clients, practitioners, and society, and learn to navigate protective systems that hinder healing
• Apply Internal parts-work therapy techniques for facilitating the release of entrenched emotional and psychological burdens, fostering holistic healing and restoration
• Discuss cultural competence and sensitivity in therapeutic interactions, tailoring interventions to address the unique challenges faced by marginalized clients and ensuring equitable treatment and outcomes
• Discuss strategies for connecting clients’ narratives and symptoms with underlying legacy and cultural burdens, empowering them to navigate their personal healing journey with strength and agency