Highlighting Indigenous Populations in Counseling

Native Americans endure greater disparities when it comes to mental health. There are many barriers preventing Native Americans from receiving counseling and mental health care. Due to the history of colonization and genocide, Native Americans are less likely to trust colonial institutions, which includes mental health care. Furthermore, if a Native American were to engage in counseling services, there is a lack of culturally competent providers who understand the values, traditions, and relationship to Native American identity and who can provide culturally appropriate intervention strategies. Counselors must prioritize learning the history of Indigenous Peoples and the impacts of colonialism in their region to help foster cultural humility and safety and to understand how historical context and trauma impact clients and mental health.