{"id":563,"date":"2026-04-22T09:22:26","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T16:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/?page_id=563"},"modified":"2026-04-24T16:08:16","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T23:08:16","slug":"practice-15","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/counsellingconcepts.ca\/decolonizing-health-healing-care\/practice-15\/","title":{"rendered":"Practice 15 Justice-Seeking"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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\"Decolonizing<\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Chapter 7.1<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Practice 15 Justice-Seeking: Advocating Structural\u2013Societal Change<\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n

By Melissa Jay, Sandra Collins, Jane Arscott, Janelle Baker, Zuraida Dada, Gina Ko, and Kaltrina Kusari<\/em><\/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\/pl84573946<\/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 Melissa, Sandra, and Jane illustrate the critical need for justice-seeking through macrolevel social, economic, and political changes that positively influence client and community health and well-being. They invite counsellors and psychotherapists to consider their collective responsibility for structural\u2013societal change. The work of dismantling colonial, oppressive, and inequitable systems is increasingly urgent and requires engagement by multiple groups, including those in positions of power and privilege. Following the practice of Etuaptmumk, also known as Two-Eyed Seeing, the authors advocate for deconstruction and reconstruction of macrolevel systems by integrating multiple ways of knowing, doing, and being to enact change that embodies the values of justice, accessibility, inclusion, diversity, and equity (JAIDE). They outline practical steps for justice-seeking. Then they focus on specific examples of how healthcare practitioners might take action to challenge social injustice: (a) global human rights and social justice; (b) social justice action and activism; (c) systemic policy change, including incremental change and making social policy; (d) transforming public perception; and (e) research as activism. Drawing on their expertise in political theory, Jane integrates personal reflections and practice examples of how to foster macrolevel change through advocacy, systemic policy change, and standing up for human rights. Melissa, Sandra, and Jane remind readers that, like all other decolonial practices, change begins with practitioners\u2019 own consciousness-raising so they can embrace solidarity in justice-seeking from a place of cultural humility and awareness of the risks of ethnocentrism. They introduced an invitation at the end of the chapter to the honour legitimate and sacred rage by staying grounding in the present moment to discern the need to respond, to bear witness, or to engage in self-care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Melissa, Sandra, and Jane are thankful for the additional practice examples provided by the following co-authors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n