Overview

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.

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9781068189005

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Talha AlAli, MSc, MA, is a Palestinian psychotherapist and founder of Decolonised Minds, a platform dedicated to decolonised, culturally grounded and politically conscious approaches to mental health. With nearly two decades of clinical and humanitarian experience, Talha has worked extensively with survivors of war, torture, and forced displacement across the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and Ireland.He began his career working with children and adults affected by war trauma in Palestine, including survivors of torture, and then he moved to Jordan, where he joined Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Over the years, he has held key roles with MSF in several conflict zones-including Libya, Ukraine, and Bangladesh-where he managed mental health teams, provided therapy, and led capacity-building efforts for local professionals. His work included supporting survivors in Libyan detention centres, offering psychological care for children in MSF's reconstructive surgery hospital in Jordan, and reaching war-affected communities in occupied eastern Ukraine. In Bangladesh, he worked with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and children subjected to labour exploitation.Now based in Ireland, besides his private practice, Talha works as a psychotherapist with the Irish Red Cross, providing therapeutic support to survivors of trauma and forced displacement. He has also worked in homeless shelters and with unaccompanied minors seeking asylum.Talha holds a BSc in Psychology and Counselling, a Master's in Community Mental Health, an MA in Psychology, and an MSc in Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy. His work is grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care and a deep commitment to social justice. Decolonised Minds reflects his dedication to reimagining psychotherapy through an ethical, political, and decolonial lens.

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