From a decolonizing standpoint, as proposed by Cruz and Sonn (2011), the current community psychology competencies seem insufficient because these often leave power structures intact. Consequently, we propose a decolonizing, decolonial and anti-colonial competency in community psychology practice to facilitate the practitioner’s process toward decoloniality, specifically decolonizing language, discourses, relationships and research processes with communities. A decolonial competency in community psychology practice is characterized by an iterative process of critical ethical reflexivity that aims to de-link community psychology practice from hegemonic Western Eurocentric perspectives in order to foster and center community voice, knowledge and power. Through an autoethnographic methodology we offer reflexive vignettes to illustrate a decolonial competency, and the lessons we have learned throughout community psychology practice. As a core community psychology competency, decoloniality can equip practitioners with the skills to engage meaningfully in a critical ethical reflexive practice that aligns with the discipline’s values and foundational principles.
Article
Is there Room for More?: Considering the Need for a Decoloniality Community Psychology Core Competency
Ethnic Studies
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-31-2023
Publisher
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice
Disciplines
Abstract
Citation Information
Fernández, J. S. & Silva, J. (2023). Is there room for more?: Considering the need for a community psychology
core competency of decoloniality. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 14(1), 1-21.
https://www.gjcpp.org/en/article.php?issue=44&article=276
Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice by GJCPP Editorial Board is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.