[ICAP 2026] Reflective Praxis for Inclusive and Decolonized Cross-Cultural Practices

Reflective Praxis for Inclusive and Decolonized Cross- Cultural Practices ------- Jungeun Kim, Ph.D.

I had the privilege of participating in the invited symposium on Decolonization and Liberation in Counseling Psychology for International Psychologists in the Global Context at the 31st International Congress of Applied Psychology in Florence, Italy.

Guided by decolonized frameworks through intersectional and indigenous epistemological lenses, this presentation intended to examine how U.S.-based counseling psychology paradigms are transferred internationally and how these models may unintentionally sustain the systems of privilege, power, and oppression.

Participants were introduced to strategies designed to contextualize counseling psychology and support culturally-grounded training and practice. Through storytelling and self-reflection, the presentation focused on the imperatives of solidarity building and cross-sector alliances. Specifically, attention were directed to: (1) strategies to integrate the communal bonds and social interest in the development of counseling psychology training program as well as faculty training; (2) methods for mobilizing collective wisdom in cross-cultural therapy to navigate the intricate dynamics of power, privilege, and positionality; and (3) liberation-psychology-infused approaches, including decolonizing assertiveness training through indigenous metaphors explored in specific cultural contexts.

The presentation introduced specific examples of deliberate practices as well as a unique diversity model (e.g., “K-ADDRESSING” model) reflecting Korean sociocultural contexts. Hopefully attendees also gained tools for cultivating transformative perspectives on the use of psychological assessments and inventories through an indigenous-centered framework.