{"id":510,"date":"2026-04-15T14:27:22","date_gmt":"2026-04-15T21:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/?page_id=510"},"modified":"2026-05-01T09:23:32","modified_gmt":"2026-05-01T16:23:32","slug":"practice-8","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/practice-8\/","title":{"rendered":"Practice 8 Respect for Dignity"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Decolonizing<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Chapter 3.3<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice 8 Respect for Dignity: Honouring Rights Through Responsible Care<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

By Cristelle Audet, Sandra Collins, Melissa Jay, Zuraida Dada, and Kirby Huminuik<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Book: Decolonizing Health, Healing, and Care<\/a>
Published: June 1, 2025
Publisher: Counselling Concepts<\/a>
Chapter DOI: https:\/\/doi.org\/10.71446\/zx46865437<\/a>
Book ISBN: 978-0-9738085-6-8
Format: ePub
Distributor: Vital Source<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Purchase your copy at<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Vital Source<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Abstract<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this chapter Cristelle, Sandra, and Melissa enhance appreciation of human rights as a foundation for ethical, culturally responsive, and socially just counselling practice by centring respect for dignity. Dignity and human rights are inextricably intertwined. Dignity reflects the absolute and inherent worth of all human beings, and it is the universality of this inalienable worth that forms the impetus for human rights. Human rights often arise out of egregious historical events and then become embedded in human rights bills, declarations, and conventions. Human rights inform professional codes of ethics. Both human rights and dignity find expression in social spaces, professional spaces, and therapy spaces. Social dignity reflects the inherent value and worth that every individual possesses as a member of society, which is often compromised by coloniality and other forms of cultural oppression. In professional spaces, discrimination and othering can be more subtle. Cristelle offers insights into the harms that arise when a lack of dignity creeps into counselling and psychotherapy theory and practice. She contrasts this with actively and intentionally doing dignity by situating and upholding dignity within therapeutic spaces. Positioning the therapeutic relationship as a microcosm of broader society necessitates attention to social, professional, and therapeutic dignity. Cristelle offers a series of practical tips for enacting dignity in practice. A deep sense of respect for human dignity builds upon the practices of cultural humility and ethical space to amplify cultural safety in theory, research, and practice for all people and peoples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cristelle, Sandra, and Melissa are joined in this chapter by the following co-authors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n