Clinical psychology

Recognises the value of incorporating Māori values wairua, and tikanga into clinical practice to ensure holistic and culturally safe hinengaro care. Highlights the need for clinicians to be culturally competent and responsive, promoting healing approaches llthat align with Māori concepts of wellbeing, such as hauora and manaakitanga.

Literature - Articles & Books

Baxter, J. (2008)

Māori mental health needs profile: A review of the evidence. Te Rau Matatini

Presents findings from a project that profiles Māori mental health need. The project was undertaken to provide background to the development of Māori mental health policy and strategy within the Ministry of Health. Findings may also inform planning for Māori mental health workforce and service development, mental health service policy and strategy and public health approaches to Māori mental health promotion.

Moeke-Pickering, T. M., Paewai, M. K., Turangi-Joseph, A., Herbert, A. M. L., Alan, S. B., & Michel, H. (1998)

Clinical Psychology in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Indigenous perspectives. Comprehensive Clinical Psychology, Pages 349-355

This text explores the Indigenous Māori perspective on psychology in Aotearoa (New Zealand), highlighting the challenges of applying Western psychological theories to Māori contexts. It emphasises the importance of developing Indigenous paradigms and notes the role of the Treaty of Waitangi in shaping culturally relevant frameworks. Māori-led initiatives have significantly influenced psychology training, reflecting growing acceptance of Indigenous models in the field.

Tse, S., Lloyd, C., Petchkovsky, L., & Manaia, W. (2005)

Exploration of Australian and New Zealand indigenous people's spirituality and mental health. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, pages 181-187.

Explores the concept of spirituality among indigenous people of Australia and New Zealand, and use mental health as a practice setting to suggest how occupational therapists can address the spiritual needs of individuals recovering from mental health problems.

McLachlan, A. (2008)

Weaving the realities and responsibilities: Crossing culture and concepts of healing within co-existing mental health and addictive disorders. pages 57-61

Within ‘Mainstream’ western and Kaupapa Māori services, competing priorities often mean that cultural and clinical services are not implemented in unison. Without this ‘unison’, treatment of Māori with co-existing mental health and addictive disorders may be ineffective. This paper reflects the journey of a small social service agency ‘Pai Ake Solutions Limited’ (PASL) in integrating western clinical approaches within tikanga Māori values.

Videos

The Hui, 2019


Matauranga Māori mental health approach helping those seeking healing

Mental health advocate Tui Taurua Peihopa is using her experience both inside and outside the system to fight for Māori to have their voice heard in mental health services. Carver Petera Reid was diagnosed with schizophrenia and experienced seclusion in Mount Eden Prison, followed by years in the psychiatric system, but it was a tohunga that put him on the path to healing. Gisborne psychiatrist Diana Kopua and her ta moko artist husband Mark created Mahi A Atua, narrative therapy based on maturanga Māori and origin stories.

Frame - The Spinoff, 2018

Under the korowai: A look at Māori mental health practice

Te Whare Marie is a kaupapa Māori mental health service provider that is combining tohunga-led spiritual and cultural therapy and clinical methods to help young Māori understand, rather than fear, their gifts.

References

Journal Articles:

  • Baxter, J. (2008). Māori mental health needs profile: A review of the evidence. Palmerston North, New Zealand: Te Rau Matatini

  • Moeke-Pickering, T. M., Paewai, M. K., Turangi-Joseph, A., Herbert, A. M. L., Alan, S. B., & Michel, H. (1998). Clinical Psychology in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Indigenous perspectives. In A. Bellack & M. Hersen (Eds.), Comprehensive Clinical Psychology (Vol. 10, pp. 349-355). Oxford: Pergamon.

  • Tse, S., Lloyd, C., Petchkovsky, L., & Manaia, W. (2005). Exploration of Australian and New Zealand indigenous people's spirituality and mental health. Australian Occupational Therapy Journal, 116(1170), 181-187.

  • McLachlan, A. (2008). Weaving the realities and responsibilities: Crossing culture and concepts of healing within co-existing mental health and addictive disorders. In M. Levy, L.W. Nikora, B. MastersAwatere, M. Rua, & M. Waitoki (Eds.), Claiming Spaces: Proceedings of the 2007 National Maori and He Kohikohinga Rangahau, p. 8 Pacific Psychologies Symposium (pp. 57-61). Hamilton, New Zealand: Maori and Psychology Research Unit, The University of Waikato.

Videos:

Cover image credit: Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash