Politicizing Therapy to Spark Real Healing with Dr. Jennifer Mullan

Y’all, this week Dr. Jennifer Mullan, the founder of Decolonizing Therapy and great friend, slid into the diner booth with me. She and I worked together at New Jersey City University and became friends really quickly! We discussed late-night guilty pleasures, what we are currently watching, and then dove in! I loved learning how Astrology is woven into so many facets of Dr. Mullan’s fabric. We talked about getting into crystals, charts, and past lives…all of which were new to me. I then asked her about how she balances spirituality, astrology, and psychology in her practice. In her answer, she discussed the difference between treatment and healing. It was powerful to hear her gush about when students become our best teachers and motivators. I then asked her about her new path with decolonizing therapy. What does decolonization mean and why does it matter? She talked about ways for people to correlate trauma with colonization. And we wrapped up with the question, when does the teaching/learning start for people on this topic? We got REAL deep on this one, and I am here for it!!!

About the Guest:

Dr. Jennifer Mullan (Pronouns: She/ Her) creates spaces for people and organizations to heal. She believes that it is essential to create a dialogue to address how mental health is deeply affected by systemic inequities and the trauma of oppression, particularly the well-being of Queer Indigenous Black Brown People of Color (QIBPOC).  

Dr. Mullan has earned her Doctorate of Psychology (Psy.D) in Clinical Psychology from the California Institute of Integral Studies; a Master’s in Counseling & Community Agencies from New York University’s Steinhardt School of Education; and her BA in Psychology and Elementary Education, from New Jersey City University. 

In 2019, she founded Decolonizing Therapy, LLC. They seek to create spaces to “call mental health professions IN” (rather than call people out). Dr. Mullan believes it is essential to ask mental health professionals to reassess their education, “whom they are serving? “and begin to question the relatability of the mental health industrial complex to the People they serve. It is her belief that we can tend to our emotional/ mental health AND hold systemic oppression accountable.

Dr. Mullan also centralizes Historical and Intergenerational Trauma, which she identifies as Ancestral Trauma, at the crux of decolonization work. Through the movement of Decolonizing Therapy, Dr. Mullan can be found providing international keynotes, holding Radicalizing Rage workshops, doing Coaching sessions while un-training mental health professionals, and providing Ancestral healing sessions.

Whether on stage or through her writing, Dr. Mullan offers conscious, clear, and authentic dialogue that is a healing interchange of therapy, intersectional awareness, social justice work, and practical interventions that pave a path for her participants to carve out a purposeful life for themselves. She is passionate about helping people and movements define their own healing and resistance to oppression. She loves cats, the ocean, brunch, dancing, and affirmation cards. 

Connect with Dr. Jennifer Mullan and learn more:

Website: https://www.drjennifermullan.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/decolonizingtherapy/

About the Host:

Friends! Here's a somewhat stuffy bio of me:  

I am an author, professional speaker, coach, host, and entrepreneur. My first book, Leading Imperfectly: The value of being authentic for leaders, professionals, and human beings, is available wherever people buy books. I speak internationally to willing and unwilling attendees about authenticity, vulnerability, and leadership. My clients include American Express, General Electric (GE), Accenture, Yale University, The Ohio State University, and many others. As a speaker, I am doing the two things I loves the most: making people think and making people laugh! 

I host my own events multiple times a year. They are 2-day events called Living Imperfectly Live (and sometimes they are 1-day virtual events). They are a space where humans from every walk of life can come together to be part of a community on the pursuit of badassery. The goal is to help attendees start living the life we say we want to live.

Alas, you're here because of an idea I had a number of years ago and didn't think I was good enough to pull it off. I finally acted on it and alas Diner Talks with James was born! As you can see from what I do in my professional life, Diner Talks is alligned with everything I believe in and teach. If this wasn't dry enough, and you would like to know more info about my speaking, events, or coaching feel free to check out my website: JamesTRobo.com.

Let’s Be Friends on Social Media!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jamestrobo

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/jamestrobo

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jamesrobilotta/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/JamesRobilottaCSP

Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/JamesTRobo

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