Liberating Marginalized Couples from Relational & Systemic Trauma with Akilah Riley-Richardson (245)

Centering voices and perspectives of marginalized couples is crucial in therapy Co-host Sue Marriott and Akilah Riley Richardson dive into a wide-ranging discussion about the vital need to center marginalized voices of clients – and therapists. They explore how Western perspectives have shaped therapy practices globally, often overlooking diverse cultural approaches. Akilah brings a fresh, challenging perspective to the table. She pushes for a real shake-up in how we approach therapy, especially when working with marginalized couples. It's not just about tweaking existing methods – she's calling for a fundamental rethinking of our assumptions. The conversation tackles some heavy topics, from unpacking the concept of relational privilege to developing strategies that help couples see beyond their individual struggles to the bigger picture of systemic trauma. What really stands out is their focus on the deep impact of systemic trauma. They don't just acknowledge it – they dig into why it's so crucial for therapists to truly understand and address it in their work. Ultimately, this discussion isn't just academic. It's a call to action for therapists to step up, broaden their perspectives, and find new ways to help couples break free from systemic constraints. It's about empowering relationships and, in the process, maybe changing the face of therapy itself. Time Stamps 00:00 Introduction and Akilah's background 02:15 The influence of the global north on therapy practices in the global south 06:24 Understanding relational privilege in marginalized couples 28:36 The impact of systemic trauma on marginalized couples 30:50 The theater of oppression: Mapping themes onto relationships 36:51 Learning about relationships through systemic trauma 40:59 Challenging the therapy profession 46:13 The bubble of psychotherapy 48:43 Redefining and reclaiming narratives of survival 53:28 The urgency of addressing systemic trauma 56:16 Challenging the profession and implementing systemic change 59:04 Taking action and being part of the work About our Guest – Akilah Riley-Richardson MSW, CCTP Akilah Riley-Richardson is a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional, a Facilitator and Trainer, as well as a Couples Therapist, certified in the STAIR Method. She has received training in various areas including Somatic Experiencing, Brainspotting, Playback Theatre, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Neuroscience, Emotionally Focused Therapy, Relational Life Therapy, Psychobiological Approach to Couples Therapy, Compassion Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems Therapy. She is the founder of the Relational Healing Institute, which is dedicated to the healing of relationships, especially those of marginalized people, and is also the creator of the P.R.I.D.E model which is an approach that is useful when working with clients and in clinical supervision. P.R.I.D.E stands for Pivot, Rumble, Imagine, Develop and Evolve.