Over the years, there have been plenty of controversies and criticism regarding the approach and treatment of mental health issues, and for good reason! Historically, the interventions, strategies, and overall philosophies focused heavily on the individual symptomology, pathology, Western ideology, and colonization. It’s focus is on the “medical model” of illness and disease and only offers a one-sided version of the story. Integrative mental health is a philosophy, an approach, that incorporates multiple modalities that’s effective and long-lasting.
Individual Symptomology
Centering individual symptomology without considering the cultural and contextual environments is blame and shame oriented. By focusing solely on one person’s presentation of symptoms, we’re minimizing, or flat out ignoring the larger picture of ALL people — particularly excluded groups–, circumstances, and historical aspects that contribute to a person’s overall health and wellbeing. In essence, we’re pointing fingers at the person experiencing the struggles whatever they may be.
Individual symptomology is merely an outward presentation of something deeper, something inside a person or system experiencing a “root cause” that needs addressed. With that said, sometimes determining individual or system distress allows for a starting point, a beginning to the healing process. Symptoms a person may experience may vary in scope, intensity, duration, and frequency — these are called “Subjective Units of Distress” (SUDS). Considering these SUDS facilitate a more robust micro, mezzo, and macro approach to mental health and wellbeing.
Client Story:
I recently had a client reach out to receive coaching because they were struggling with chronic stress, intermittent overwhelm, and low quality of life. They wanted to start making decisions that supported the life they wanted and couldn’t figure out why they were stuck. We had a few sessions together, so I could understand their story deeply and determine what some underlying causes may be that created this perpetual cycle.
The root: I learned that they had immigrated from Africa at age 11, was adopted by an American-born, white family and were highly religious. Many of their child-rearing methods were somewhat contradictory to their African family and, thus, an inner struggle was created. Our work together is multifaceted; 1) we acknowledge the cultural differences, the generational and developmental trauma, and the system that actively works against her, and 2) identify areas where she has control or influence on how she engages with those barriers. Integrating aspects of her whole story, allowed for more possibilities and significantly reduced her SUDs. In sum, her presenting “symptoms” were rooted in something larger, provided healing, and unlocked that stuckness she’d been feeling.
Pathology
Pathologizing mental health refers to the tendency to view and understand mental health issues solely through the lens of pathology or illness. It involves framing normal human experiences and emotions as disorders that require medical treatment. This approach can have both positive and negative implications.
On one hand, pathologizing mental health can help individuals receive appropriate care, access treatment, and reduce stigma surrounding mental health. It enables professionals to diagnose and categorize symptoms, leading to standardized treatment guidelines and interventions.
However, excessive pathologizing can be problematic. It can overlook the complexity of human experiences and emotions, disregarding the sociocultural factors that contribute to mental well-being. It may lead to overdiagnosis, medicalization of normal responses to life events, and reliance on medication as the primary form of treatment. This approach can inadvertently perpetuate the idea that individuals with mental health challenges are fundamentally flawed or broken.
It is important to strike a balance by recognizing the range of human experiences, promoting holistic approaches to mental health, and addressing the underlying social, cultural, and environmental factors that contribute to mental well-being. This includes considering psychosocial interventions, counseling, community support, and self-care strategies alongside medical treatment if or when necessary.
Western Ideology and Colonization
The impact of Colonization on mental health is complex and multifaceted. Historically, colonization has had detrimental effects on the mental well-being of indigenous populations and marginalized communities. European powers colonized various parts of the world imposing their cultural, social, and medical systems on the colonized populations, including their understanding and treatment of mental health. The disruption of cultures, forced assimilation, loss of land and resources, and systemic oppression have contributed to high rates of trauma, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues among ALL populations, particularly those directly impacted.
Colonization often brought with it a legacy of intergenerational trauma, where the psychological effects of the past continue to impact subsequent generations. It’s important to acknowledge and address this historical context when discussing mental health disparities and inequalities.
Western mental health practices are rooted in Eurocentric perspectives and often prioritize individualism, pathology, and a biomedical model of mental illness. These approaches may not fully consider the cultural, social, and historical contexts of the individuals seeking mental health support. As a result, the experiences, worldviews, and healing practices of marginalized communities may be disregarded or pathologized.
Colonialism disrupted traditional healing practices and indigenous knowledge systems that had long been used to address mental health issues within different cultures. This erasure and suppression of diverse cultural approaches to mental health perpetuated a power imbalance and limited the resources and autonomy of colonized populations in managing their mental well-being.
In recent years, there has been a growing recognition of the limitations of Western-centric mental health practices and a call for more culturally sensitive and inclusive approaches. Efforts are being made to decolonize mental health by incorporating diverse perspectives, honoring cultural practices, and empowering individuals from marginalized communities to define and shape their own mental health support systems. This includes embracing integrative approaches that consider the interconnectedness of mental, physical, and spiritual well-being within specific cultural contexts.
Furthermore, the process of colonization itself can be seen as a form of collective trauma, with lasting psychological impacts on both the colonized and the colonizers. It is important to acknowledge this historical context when examining mental health disparities and inequalities, as well as when designing interventions and support systems that are sensitive to cultural differences and the effects of colonization.
Integrative Mental Health
My definition of integrative mental health is 1) identifying the root cause – often trauma-related that includes generational trauma, unsupportive systems, personal experiences, and any other insult that negatively impacts a person’s nervous system, 2) treating the whole person in context with their environment, and 3) customizing treatment modalities, rituals and ceremonies, and other practices to meet the needs of the person, community, and/or system – because everyone is different in how, why, and when they heal.
By approaching “mental health” from a holistic perspective and deconstructing the Westernized paradigm of health and healing there is more opportunity for a life of ease, joy, and freedom.
Client Success:
I worked with a cis-gender woman in her mid-30s. She had been to therapists, psychiatrists, alternative healers, and other medical providers – many of whom were somewhat fanatical about her “problem” and were convinced that their treatment was the “right way”. This person came to see me because they wanted a blended, more person-oriented approach that was grounded in science, understood cultural and decolonized perspectives and allowed for magic and possibility.
We worked together for several months and at our last session, she reflected that she’d felt more whole than in she’d ever felt. She never felt judged. She felt deeply supported. She felt free to live her life in ways that felt authentic, expressive, and generative.
Conclusion
Considering these perspectives, it makes sense why there’s controversy, stigma, and frustration around mental health treatment. The medical model is one-dimensional, steeped in problematic ideals, and provides benefits to some. Moving forward it is crucial to promote decolonization efforts in mental health systems, which involve recognizing and respecting diverse cultural perspectives on well-being, empowering communities to define their own paths to healing, and addressing the systemic inequities that perpetuate mental health disparities within post-colonial societies. Integrative mental health is one of many avenues that support a more holistic approach to helping solve systemic issues.
Lighting the Path 