Decolonised Minds: When Radical Becomes Rational: A Framework for Decolonising Psychotherapy

Book Blurb

Endorsed by Professor John McLeod, the co-founder of the Pluralistic Approach to Counselling and Psychotherapy, Decolonised Minds: When Radical Becomes Rational is a bold and deeply necessary rethinking of how psychotherapy is taught, practised, and understood in a world still shaped by colonial legacies. Written by Palestinian psychotherapist Talha AlAli, this work weaves rigorous analysis, cultural critique, and frontline clinical experience into a powerful case for dismantling the Eurocentric assumptions embedded in mental health systems.

AlAli traces the enduring influence of colonialism on the language, ethics, and structures of therapy, revealing how current models can inadvertently replicate the very systems of power they claim to heal. Drawing on liberation psychology, Indigenous knowledge systems, and pluralistic approaches, he argues for a practice rooted in humility, cultural sovereignty, and solidarity-based care.

This is not a manual of surface-level cultural adaptation. It is a sustained invitation to transform the purpose and possibilities of therapy-integrating ancestral wisdom, collective healing, and political consciousness into the heart of mental health practice. Written for therapists, educators, policymakers, and those working at the intersections of justice and care, Decolonised Minds challenges readers to move beyond tokenism toward meaningful change. In doing so, it reframes decolonisation not as an abstract ideal, but as a living, daily commitment to restoring dignity, truth, and connection.