Using psychotherapeutic arts to decolonise counselling for Indigenous peoples

Abstract

Based on an invited Lecture at the 2nd Asia Pacific Rim Counselling Conference held in Hong Kong on 6–8 July 2011, this article documents the benefits of ‘artful autoethnography’ and advances discussion of the uses of autoethnography using art in formulating, evaluating and synthesising the field of arts psychotherapy to decolonise counselling for Indigenous peoples around the world. The authors consider the development, conduct and report on artful autoethnography as an emerging research practice and how it addresses psychotherapeutic arts practice. We consider the critical issues of identity for Indigenous peoples worldwide. Understanding the relevance of the research method and how artful autoethnography contributes to the wellness of Indigenous peoples worldwide, a premise of the article is that Indigenous communities have used artful practice for healing since time immemorial, and that the act of colonisation of their artworks for physical, emotional, mental and spiritual knowing is the ultimate act of larceny.