Online community sessions are hosted occasionally as a way for community knowledge to be shared, developed and as a way of sharing ongoing research findingswith the communities the research seeks to serve.

Healing in/from the colony is the title of Leah Manaema Avene's Masters in Gestalt Psychotherapy Research submission. The research explores structures of colonial oppression and the resultant social, relational and embodied impacts that are present in the therapy room or in healing processes.

As a storyteller and musician (Philemon), broadcaster (All Our Stories PBSfm 2014 - 2019, MIXED MEDICINE 3RRR, 2023) and educator, Leah's work has evolved from a focus on mental health journeys and narrative healing to social change and structural injustice to culture, Indigeneity and Community care. In 2018, Leah paused music making and creativity to pursue studying a Masters of Gestalt Psychotherapy and begin a mentorship in the organisational implementation of Culturally Safe and Responsive Collaboration (CSRC) with Rachel Naninaaq Edwardson and David Vadiveloo.

These community sessions are offered as a way of being in dialogue with the communities Leah’s research seeks to serve: 1) Indigenous, Black and other communities of colour resisting the structures of colonial oppression and 2) white individuals, activists and practitioners who are working towards the necessary internal, relational and social transformation required for justice, equity and dignity for all people and living things.

“My research has been an excruciating process of learning for me. First, engaging with the content of my research - colonial oppression - and second, struggling through the process of research. I’ve had to wrestle with feelings of imposter syndrome, intimidated and overwhelmed by dense academic language and feelings of not-belonging and not-enoughness.

Throughout this process, I have written and re-written my dedications page, a love letter to the people that came before me and wrote/ passed down their wisdom for me to read/ know and be liberated by, to my elders, my mentors, my family, my communities and most importantly to my children. Re-reading these words would keep me going because I would be reminded of how important this is to me, and how much I love the communities I am a part of.

It is said that most research is me-search where researchers are always invested and looking for something to make sense of themselves. What I have come to understand is that this is we-search, every word, concept and piece of wisdom I have is because it came alive relationally, in conversation with people I love. I know how important it is for me to speak directly to my communities and share what I have been doing and why. It’s important for me to hear feedback and be guided by their wisdom so that I can continue this work in collaboration with those I seek to serve.”

— Leah

To register your interest in attending these sessions JOIN CO CULTURE’S MAILING LIST