Wada, KaoriVillebrun, GwendolynMaisey, Douglas Ryan2024-09-032024-09-032024-08-30Maisey, D. R. (2024). Conceptualization of land within Indigenous Focusing-Oriented Therapy (IFOT) (Master's thesis, University of Calgary, Calgary, Canada). Retrieved from https://prism.ucalgary.ca.https://hdl.handle.net/1880/119575Indigenous People are often disproportionately represented in terms of the need for mental health support. However, Euro-Western counselling approaches often further oppress and marginalize Indigenous Peoples as these wellness interventions are typically culturally irrelevant which links to the mistrust of the mental health system. As just one example, many of these treatments minimize the importance and use of Land in the healing journey. Indigenous Peoples throughout Turtle Island have a deep-rooted connection to Land as a teacher, relative, healer, and spirit. The field of counselling psychology has yet to integrate Indigenous ways of knowing and Land in counselling settings to decolonize and reconcile counselling approaches. Indigenous Focusing-oriented therapy (IFOT) is a therapy approach grounded in Land and Indigenous philosophy to address complex personal, vicarious, and intergenerational trauma. Utilizing a relational methodology and Indigenous research methods of conversation, witnessing, and reflexive journaling, this study sought to understand the conceptualization of Land within IFOT. Conversations with five IFOT knowledge holders and engaging in IFOT training programs allowed Land to be conceptualized and understood within an IFOT framework. By conceptualizing Land within IFOT and the therapeutic space, Land can be noticed and utilized to heal intergenerational trauma and cultural genocide. With Land, clients can address the attempted genocide and complex trauma that show up in their present to heal and find harmony for themselves and all those they are in relation with. This research adds to the growing bodies of IFOT literature and presents implications for healing practices, research within education, counselling psychology, and related fields.enUniversity of Calgary graduate students retain copyright ownership and moral rights for their thesis. You may use this material in any way that is permitted by the Copyright Act or through licensing that has been assigned to the document. For uses that are not allowable under copyright legislation or licensing, you are required to seek permission.LandDecolonizingIndigenous Focusing-Oriented TherapyIndigenousPsychotherapyCounsellingEducation--Guidance and Counselingmaster thesis