The Consequence of Our Self-Judgement & Culturally Humble Approaches to Therapy, Nadia Islam LCSW

In this conversation, Nadia Islam, a licensed clinical supervisor at Yellow Chair Collective, discusses the importance of evidence-based and culturally humble approaches in therapy. She discusses the importance of accepting reality and moving towards one's values, as well as the power of voice and the impact of self-judgment.

Takeaways

• Evidence-based therapy involves using strategies that have been proven to lead to significant improvement in clients' symptoms or conditions.
• Cultural humility recognizes the limitations of research and aims to create a collaborative space that respects diverse populations.
• Client advocacy and empowerment are important in therapy, allowing clients to drive the conversation and make decisions about their own lives.
• The therapist's role is to guide the conversation, using active and directive approaches when necessary.
• Understanding and defining the client's problem is a crucial step in therapy.
• Maslow's hierarchy of needs is a complex framework that may not fully capture the overlapping phases of personal growth and community focus.
• Personal background and cultural influences shape a therapist's approach to therapy.
• Transitioning to therapy and facing challenges can be a transformative experience for both the therapist and the client.
• Becoming a licensed therapist requires dedication and perseverance. Accepting reality and moving towards one's values can bring meaning and fulfillment.
• Unconditional love in adult relationships may not be realistic or fair, as reciprocity and equality are important.
• Self-judgment can hinder personal growth and happiness, while curiosity can lead to greater understanding and acceptance.
• Focusing on the dynamics of relationships and the qualities of the connection can be more important than finding the 'right' person.

Chapters

• 00:00 Introduction
• 01:06 Evidence-Based Practice & Cultural Humility
• 03:00 The Importance of Client Advocacy
• 06:00 The Therapist's Role in Guiding Conversations
• 08:17 Balancing Active and Directive Approaches
• 11:30 Helping Clients Identify and Define Problems
• 13:59 Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
• 16:09 Indigenous Framework and Overlapping Phases
• 18:07 Personal Background & Cultural Influences
• 22:14 Navigating Challenging Situations and Making Decisions
• 26:37 Experiences in New York City and California
• 30:17 Transitioning to Therapy, Facing Challenges
• 35:26 Nadia's Journey to Becoming a Licensed Therapist
• 36:05 Pursuing International Social Work
• 36:31 Working in Sri Lanka
• 37:41 Challenges and Failures
• 40:52 Dealing with Disappointment
• 41:41 Values and Acceptance
• 42:48 The Power of Voice
• 43:45 Defining Values
• 46:15 Dealing with Uncertainty
• 47:10 Self-Judgment and Curiosity
• 49:11 The Belief of Unlovability
• 51:37 Unconditional Love in Adult Relationships
• 54:46 Letting Go of Expectations
• 57:09 Focusing on the Relationship
• 58:35 Lessons from Intimate Partner Violence
• 01:00:08 Identifying What You Want
• 01:01:15 The Dance of Relationships