‘Is it time to decolonise neuropsychology?’ Critical reflections on colonial structures, neuropsychology and the role of clinical psychologists

Abstract

There is a longstanding history of psychological services being inaccessible for individuals from a racially minoritised background, including continuing to pathologise individuals from these communities (Fernando, 2010). There has been significant evidence that clinical psychology continues to perpetuate racism, discrimination, and marginalisation, with Pilgrim and Patel (2015) stating that clinical psychology remains ‘anything but for all’. A further exploration into the theory and practice of neuropsychology highlights a history of systematic and scientific racism which includes the inappropriate use of ‘race’ in neuropsychological assessment and testing to further marginalise, infantilise and create a narrative of individuals from racially minoritised backgrounds as ‘inferior’ (Hiermeier & Verity, 2022). In this article the authors explore the experiences of navigating neuropsychology as racially minoritised individuals. The authors reflect on their experiences of witnessing and navigating racism in the practice and application of neuropsychology. The paper also highlights that due to the significant evidence of scientific racism in neuropsychology that Whiteness, power, racism and colonisation should be a core and compulsory component of the training of clinical and neuropsychologists. As a result, there is a need to move away from centring conversations on equality, diversity and ‘cultural competence’ with a clear focus on equity, justice, Whiteness and racism.