Healing the Soul Wound: Trauma-Informed Counseling for Indigenous Communities

by Eduardo Duran, Allen E. Ivey (Foreword)

In this groundbreaking book, Eduardo Duran--a psychologist working in Indian country--draws on his own clinical experience to provide guidance to counselors working with Native Peoples and other vulnerable populations. This second edition includes an important new chapter devoted to working with veterans, examining what it means to go to war and what is required for veterans to heal. Duran also updates his thinking on research, including suggestions on how to invent a new liberation research methodology through applied story science. Translating theory into day-to-day practice, the text presents case materials that illustrate effective intervention strategies for prevalent problems, including substance abuse, intergenerational trauma, and internalized oppression. This unique resource explores theoretical Indigenous understanding of cosmology and how understanding natural law can lead us to new ways of understanding and healing the psyche.

Book Features:

Offers a culture-specific approach that has profound implications for all counseling, therapy, and trauma-informed care. Provides invaluable concepts and strategies that can be applied directly to practice. Outlines very different ways of serving American Indian clients, translating Western metaphor into Indigenous ideas that make sense to Native People. Presents a model in which patients have a relationship with the problems they are having, whether these are physical, mental, or spiritual. This model can be used with any population dealing with the legacy of trauma and with all individuals who present symptoms and complications resulting from trauma. Includes a section in each chapter to help non-American Indian counselors generalize the concepts presented to use in their own practice in culturally sensitive ways.

Genres: Psychology, Nonfiction, Professional Development

208 pages, Hardcover

Published October 25, 2019

Reviews

[daemyra, the realm's delight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked this up as part of my research for a teacher training I was putting together this year. Review to come.

[Sadie Thompson · Rating 5 out of 5]

I will start by saying I wish there was a 4.5 Star option.

I loved this book for the ideas out forward.

Why I would remove a half ⭐....

Repetitive language, some of the terms he uses are a little cringy.

And in this day and climate, I really expect an author to explain how it is they can speak to Indigenous Teachings and Knowledge, even if taking somewhat of a Pan-Indigenous approach.

That being said, it is well worth your time. It is already on my re-read list, as there is a fair amount to digest!

[Joan Warren · Rating 4 out of 5]

An excellent resource that challenges western psychology to embrace Indigenous thinking, culture and spirituality in a respectful, eclectic and creative fashion. Given that nearly ten million Americans report having some Indigenous ancestry, this book is must-read for all therapists!

Ratings lost one star for repetitiveness—I would have only taken off a tenth of a star if that were an option.

[Varsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Informative, direct, refreshing and moving. Thank you Duran for giving voice to this much-needed outlook in healing work, and giving voice to the soul.

[alybro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Duran's writing style and thought the content of this book was refreshing and quite different from my experience with Western psychology training.

[Valentin · Rating 5 out of 5]

provided a powerful new context to my education as a social worker & reinvigorated me in my pursuit of healing