Therapy as Ceremony: Embracing Decolonial Healing Practices
for Native American Clients
On-demand (recorded) content
3.0 CE credit hours
CE/CEU credits included: 3.0 (see below for approval details). You must view the full webinar and pass the quiz (details below) to receive continuing education credits (partial credit not awarded).
Format: On-demand (recorded/asynchronous)
Quiz: there is a quiz at the end to ensure viewing, which you must pass (75%) within 3 attempts. If you do not pass within 3 attempts, you must repurchase the course for additional attempt (or if you watched the webinar with free registration, you must email us so we can reset your course progress for you to watch it again for additional attempts). It is required by CE/CEU approval organizations.
Investment: $89 + tax
Course access: Paid participants have lifetime access to this course (for the lifetime of this course and/or course portal).
Presenter: Julie Smith-Yliniemi (Ojibwe) PhD, LPCC, NCC (see bio below)
Abstract:
This webinar explores the transformative potential of integrating traditional healing practices into therapeutic settings when working with Native American clients. Grounded in a decolonial framework, this session examines how therapy can be approached as a healing ceremony, blending culturally significant rituals with modern mental health practices. Attendees will gain an understanding of the historical and intergenerational traumas that have impacted Native communities and learn strategies to decolonize therapeutic approaches to ensure they are culturally safe, respectful, and relevant.
Participants explore how traditional practices, such as storytelling, ceremony, and connection to the land, can be incorporated into therapy to enhance healing and well-being. The webinar emphasizes the importance of recognizing cultural as central to the therapeutic process, while also addressing the barriers Native American clients face when accessing mental health services.
Objectives:
- Describe the impact of colonization and historical trauma on Native American mental health
- Explain the integration of traditional healing practices into therapy
- Design strategies for decolonizing therapy
- Identify barriers to mental health access for Native American clients and ways to address them
Non-Discrimination:
HPC and ATAGF do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, disability, military status, sexual orientation, or age.
Conflict of Interest Statements:
There is no known commercial support for this program, nor are there any relationships between the CE sponsor, presenting organization, presenter, program content, research, grants, or other funding that could be construed as conflicts of interests. Dr. Smith-Yliniemi receives an honorarium for instructing this workshop. There is no commercial support or benefits for endorsement of products (e.g., books, training, drugs).
The presenter will inform participants of the utility and validity of content discussed (including the basis for statements about utility/validity), as well as limitations of the approach and the most common and severe risks, if any, associated with program content.
Requests for Accommodations:
HPC and ATAGF are committed to accessibility and non-discrimination in all aspects of its continuing education activities. Participants with special needs should contact program organizers so reasonable accommodations can be made.
To request accommodations, contact ATAGF's Continuing Education Vice Chair, Christine Boulton-Olson, PhD, LP, at training@grandforkstherapy.com.
Funding:
This course received funding from by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services, Behavioral Health Division through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Substance Use and Mental Health Block Grants.
Presenter: Julie Smith-Yliniemi (Ojibwe) PhD, LPCC, NCC
Julie Smith-Yliniemi, PhD, LPCC, NCC, is a Research Scientist in the Training and Education Program at the Center for Indigenous Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. She oversees the development and implementation of the Master of Public Health (MPH) Indigenous Health Concentration, the upcoming Doctor of Public Health (DrPH) Indigenous Health Concentration, and the Indigenous Scholars Program, helping prepare the next generation of Indigenous public health leaders.
With more than 20 years of experience as a licensed mental health therapist, school counselor, educator, researcher, and professor, Dr. Smith-Yliniemi is committed to advancing Indigenous health and wellness through community-engaged, culturally grounded research, education, and mentorship.
Her research focuses on connection, belonging, identity, mental health, substance use recovery, and Indigenous healing practices. She is particularly interested in understanding how culture, relationships, and traditional ways of knowing promote resilience and well-being across the lifespan. Her work emphasizes authentic partnerships with Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, ensuring that research is community-driven, respectful, and responsive to community priorities.
As an educator and mentor, Dr. Smith-Yliniemi is passionate about creating pathways for Indigenous students and scholars while advancing culturally responsive approaches to research, public health, and mental health practice. She believes that meaningful relationships, cultural humility, and community partnership are the foundation for improving Indigenous health outcomes.
Course Curriculum
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Continuing Education Approvals (CE/CEU)
This course is available for 3.0 continuing education hours. Full viewing is required; credit will not be given for partial viewing. You must pass the quiz at the end (75%) within 3 attempts. To get additional attempts, you must repurchase the course (or email us to reset the course if you watched it for free).
Continuing education credit note: Many licensing boards will accept continuing education credits from other state boards as long as the approval is the same license type. If you are not sure, check with your licensing board to see if they will accept any of these approvals.
This course is co-sponsored by Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks.
Psychologists: Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks, PLLC is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks, PLLC maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
New York State Licensed Psychologists: Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks/Haugen Performance Consulting is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for Licensed Psychologists (#PSY-0328).
ND Licensed Social Workers: Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks, PLLC, is approved by the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners (NDBSWE) to sponsor continuing education for social workers in North Dakota (approval through 4/5/27, provider #P-217). This course is listed on CE Broker for 3.0 continuing education hours.
ND Licensed Counselors: This course is approved by the North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners (NDBCE) for 3.0 continuing education hours (approval through 1/7/27).
ND Marriage and Family Therapists: This course has been approved by the North Dakota Marriage and Family Therapy Licensure Board for 3.0 hours of credit.
ND Licensed Addiction Counselors: Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks is an approved continuing education provider for the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counseling Examiners (NDBACE; approval through 1/29/27).
ND Licensed Nurses: Per correspondence with the North Dakota Board of Nursing (NDBON) on 11/19/25, contact hours approved by any other health care regulatory board (e.g., board of social work examiners [NDBSWE]) within the state or out-of-state will be accepted as meeting the NDBON requirements. You are encouraged to check with them to ensure this information is still accurate.
Athletic Trainers: This program has been planned and implemented in accordance with the requirements and policies of the Board of Certification for the Athletic Trainer (BOC) through the joint sponsorship of Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks, PLLC, and Haugen Performance Consulting, PLLC. Assessment and Therapy Associates of Grand Forks is approved by the BOC to provide continuing education for athletic trainers.
Paid registrants have lifetime course access.
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On-demand course: $89 + tax
(3 CE credits)!
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