New Books in Critical Theory Daniel José Gaztambide, "Decolonizing Psychoanalytic Technique: Putting Freud on Fanon's Couch" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024)
Aug 4, 2025
Daniel José Gaztambide is an author and researcher at Queens College, tackling the intersection of psychoanalysis and decolonization. He explores the influence of Frantz Fanon on contemporary therapeutic practices, emphasizing the need to address systemic inequalities in mental health. Gaztambide rethinks traditional techniques to embrace the complexities of identity and trauma, especially within marginalized communities. He proposes a model that connects personal experiences with broader sociopolitical issues, advocating for a more holistic approach in psychotherapy.
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Fanon's Integration of Psychoanalysis
- Fanon bridges individual psychotherapy with collective social issues and liberation struggles in his psychoanalytic approach.
- He critiques traditional psychoanalysis for separating individual and social dimensions, advocating for their integration.
Incorporate Sociopolitical Contexts Clinically
- Psychotherapists should recognize how social, political, and economic contexts shape patients' symptoms.
- Create space for patients to express sociopolitical realities organically during therapy.
Cardiologist Analogy for Therapy
- A cardiologist noticing many broken hearts among marginalized groups starts questioning structural causes outside the clinic.
- This metaphor illustrates how therapists should consider societal factors affecting patients' mental health.
