{"id":553,"date":"2026-04-21T07:11:37","date_gmt":"2026-04-21T14:11:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/?page_id=553"},"modified":"2026-04-24T11:26:43","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T18:26:43","slug":"practice-11","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/practice-11\/","title":{"rendered":"Practice 11 Affirmative Care"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n
\n
\"Decolonizing<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Chapter 5.2<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice 11 Affirmative Care: Leading With Love<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

By Melissa Jay, Sandra Collins, Judy Chew, and Ruth Strunz<\/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\/ad97868594<\/a>
Book ISBN: 978-0-9738085-6-8
Format: ePub
Distributor: Vital Source<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

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

Abstract<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In this chapter Melissa and Sandra draw on the practice of Etuaptmumk, also known as Two-Eyed Seeing, to consider how the Seven Sacred Teachings offered by Andrea Currie in Love in the Midst of Apocalyptic Loss<\/a><\/em> alongside knowledge from eurowestern psychological literature might come together to inform affirmative care. Melissa and Sandra draw specifically on feminist therapy, relational-cultural theory, multicultural counselling, person-centred therapy, and humanist approaches. Affirmative care begins with validation of diverse cultural identities and relationalities and openly acknowledges sociocultural injustices and inequities that negatively influence health and well-being. The Indigenous Teaching of Reciprocity informs affirmative care by inviting counsellors and psychotherapist into relationship with clients as equals, offering mutual respect, learning together, and sharing responsibility. Although affirmative care and reciprocity reflect different epistemological frameworks, eurowestern and Indigenous, each centres a values-based approach to relationships, health, and healing. The Seven Sacred Teachings provide the organizational structure for the chapter, with specific attention to how the Teachings of Love, Honesty, Respect, Humility, and Patience might deepen and strengthen affirmative care. Counsellors and psychotherapists are encouraged to assume a values-based positioning that honours diverse perspectives and enhances relational connections in support of culturally responsive and socially just health, healing, and care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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