Challenges of Indigenous Psychology in providing assistance to university students

Abstract

Objective This article aims to discuss the approach of indigenous psychology in the care of indigenous students in a university framework. Method Using a qualitative method, this article presents a case study detailing the formation trajectory of the Rede de Escuta e Desaprendizagens Étnico-Subjetivas (Network of Ethno-Subjective Listen-ing and Unlearning) to review the application of the principles of indigenous psychology in sup-porting indigenous students and their families at Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp, State University of Campinas), Brazil. Results The study highlighted the need to recognize different epistemologies for respectful therapeutic connections. Challenges were faced in the application of practices aligned with indigenous psychology, emphasizing co-authorship in sessions, valuing patients’ perspectives, and continuous unlearning. The study of the cultural elements of the ethnicities involved proved crucial to avoid the pathologization of indigenous worldviews and subjectivities. Conclusion Indigenous psychology presents itself as a tool for the changes in the cultural struggles, highlighting the gap in clinical approaches and the urgent need for further studies to develop personalized interven-tions for the care of the diverse indigenous ethnicities.