Hernandez, E. E. (2014). Healing the Wounds of Colonialism: A Counseling Group for Young Latinos. Saint Mary’s College of California.

Abstract

The mental health approach typically used to treat Latinos, usually excludes their relationship with their ecological environment. Conversely, there is a lack of research on the ways traumatic, and historical events such as colonialism have continued to impact Latinos’ intergenerational psychological functioning. The literature on indigenous populations in North America suggest that a generational legacy of genocide, human rights violations, and violence relate to present day mental health issues, such as poor self-concept and impacted identity development This counseling project is an exploration of historical trauma, and intervention for young Latinos in the United States confronting the effects of colonialism. This counseling project offers multiple interventions to support young Latinos identity exploration, build ethnic identity development, and build ethnic pride, through culturally-informed practices with the goal of fostering healing of the effects of colonialism