EMBRACING DIVERSE APPROACHES TO TRAUMA TREATMENT Social workers provide high-quality counselling and therapy in communities across Nova Scotia, working to support individuals, families, and groups within the context of their environment. Here are just a few of the strategies and modalities they use.
Using etuaptmunk in counselling BY CRAIG BESAW, RSW
Trauma within Indigenous people can have various origins
Ongoing research and assessment of Western practices
and can include intergenerational aspects. Assisting
by therapists have shown that when purely Western
individuals through their journey exploring, managing, and
approaches are applied to Indigenous peoples, it does not
working through trauma, especially within the populations I have and still work with, the approach I use most often is termed etuaptmumk, or two-eyed seeing.
Etuaptmumk, as termed by Mi’kmaw Elder
necessarily provide the best outcomes or experiences. However, there can be much more success overall when Western methods are modified to complement the use of Indigenous holistic approaches.
Albert Marshall, originates from a pathway other
Certain Western approaches such as dialectical or cognitive
than social work, and involves the practice of
adapted through culturally appropriate use of Indigenous
behavioural therapies have been and can continue to be
finding the balance through use of multiple
knowledge, ways of seeing, and healing.
perspectives.
At the initial stage of any work, one should by assessing where the client is at this time, general supports, and ensuring a safety net as trauma work is started. Building the
In application to social work and/or counseling, it involves finding strengths from traditional Indigenous processes and aspects of more Western or Eurocentric processes that fit well together, and that will allow for the best solutions that fit and benefit the individual one works with. Such practices must be respectfully entered into and done in
safety net can include exploring the ability or willingness for the individual(s) to engage with traditional spiritual practices such as sweats or smudging, and allowing them to connect with a trusted Elder; this can be done over time depending on their engagement level.
cooperation with an Indigenous colleague or an Indigenous
In a world that is constantly shifting and prone to
community member that is able to provide guidance,
changes, assisting the individuals toward support and
especially to anyone who is not Indigenous.
balance is a given.
26 Connection | Winter 2022
