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Yen Nguyen on overcoming the trauma of colonialism and racism

By
May 18, 2021
•
#
min read
Yen Nguyen(she, they)Mental Health Advocate, Army Veteran

My name is Yen Nguyen and I identify as first generation, queer Vietnamese American and Army Veteran dedicated to mental health advocacy in BIPOC and queer communities. I have been a therapist in Colorado for over 5 years and work to help folks move towards a deeper relationship with themselves.In my work, I support folks in developing a loving relationship with pieces of themselves lost or damaged through experiences of racism and historical traumas that still live in our bodies. We are all survivors of colonialism, struggling to reconnect to our strengths that can sometimes be drowned out by the voices of trauma that tell us that we’re less-than and unworthy. I struggle with worthiness as I write these words myself and wondered if I was “good enough” to be highlighted. The ache of this lives in my chest and I recognize that so many others in the AAPI and BIPOC community suffer through this.

"We are all survivors of colonialism, struggling to reconnect to our strengths that can sometimes be drowned out by the voices of trauma that tell us that we’re less-than and unworthy."

The indoctrination of whiteness onto our bodies as the “model minorities” has created fractures in our communities as internalized racism, sexism and classism. I believe that the path to healing is in decentering and dismantling whiteness in our bodies and shifting towards defining ourselves through the lens’ of our ancestors. It is imperative that we heal with each other and reconnect in spite of the narratives that have driven us apart. Healing in strength for me is coming back to the foods that came from my grandmother’s hands, the history on the lines of mother’s smiles, the stories from my aunt’s feet, and the earth’s grace beneath me. Let’s learn and heal together.I stand with Black Lives, No Humans are Illegal and down with White supremacy.

"The indoctrination of whiteness onto our bodies as the 'model minorities' has created fractures in our communities as internalized racism, sexism and classism."

Yen is a graduate of the University of Louisville in Counseling Psychology where they spent time researching Trans/GNC experiences in the VA healthcare system. They are the owner of Spirit Well Counseling, PLLC, where they work as a therapist specializing in several modalities which include; mindfulness based cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive processing therapy, interpersonal therapy and psychodynamic approaches. Yen also spent time throughout their life and career working with LGBTQ+ youth in various communities.

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These items allow the website to remember choices you make (such as your user name, language, or the region you are in) and provide enhanced, more personal features. For example, a website may provide you with local weather reports or traffic news by storing data about your current location.
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These items help the website operator understand how its website performs, how visitors interact with the site, and whether there may be technical issues. This storage type usually doesn’t collect information that identifies a visitor.
Confirm my preferences and close
Posts
Culture

Yen Nguyen on overcoming the trauma of colonialism and racism

By
May 18, 2021
•
#
min read
Yen Nguyen(she, they)Mental Health Advocate, Army Veteran

My name is Yen Nguyen and I identify as first generation, queer Vietnamese American and Army Veteran dedicated to mental health advocacy in BIPOC and queer communities. I have been a therapist in Colorado for over 5 years and work to help folks move towards a deeper relationship with themselves.In my work, I support folks in developing a loving relationship with pieces of themselves lost or damaged through experiences of racism and historical traumas that still live in our bodies. We are all survivors of colonialism, struggling to reconnect to our strengths that can sometimes be drowned out by the voices of trauma that tell us that we’re less-than and unworthy. I struggle with worthiness as I write these words myself and wondered if I was “good enough” to be highlighted. The ache of this lives in my chest and I recognize that so many others in the AAPI and BIPOC community suffer through this.

"We are all survivors of colonialism, struggling to reconnect to our strengths that can sometimes be drowned out by the voices of trauma that tell us that we’re less-than and unworthy."

The indoctrination of whiteness onto our bodies as the “model minorities” has created fractures in our communities as internalized racism, sexism and classism. I believe that the path to healing is in decentering and dismantling whiteness in our bodies and shifting towards defining ourselves through the lens’ of our ancestors. It is imperative that we heal with each other and reconnect in spite of the narratives that have driven us apart. Healing in strength for me is coming back to the foods that came from my grandmother’s hands, the history on the lines of mother’s smiles, the stories from my aunt’s feet, and the earth’s grace beneath me. Let’s learn and heal together.I stand with Black Lives, No Humans are Illegal and down with White supremacy.

"The indoctrination of whiteness onto our bodies as the 'model minorities' has created fractures in our communities as internalized racism, sexism and classism."

Yen is a graduate of the University of Louisville in Counseling Psychology where they spent time researching Trans/GNC experiences in the VA healthcare system. They are the owner of Spirit Well Counseling, PLLC, where they work as a therapist specializing in several modalities which include; mindfulness based cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, eye movement desensitization reprocessing (EMDR), cognitive processing therapy, interpersonal therapy and psychodynamic approaches. Yen also spent time throughout their life and career working with LGBTQ+ youth in various communities.

Share this post
Copy share link
Share on LinkedIn
Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Culture

Related posts

Read more to stay up-to-date on the latest Culture happenings at One Colorado.

View all
Culture

Trans Day of Visibility

Transgender Day of Visibility is a day to celebrate the lives and lived experiences of trans people!
Culture

2024 Black History Month

Celebrating LGBTQ+ Black activists, artists, and community leaders both past and present, plus Black-led and serving organizations and resources by and for the Black queer community.
Culture

Angelic Troublemakers

As we commemorate the dream envisioned by MLK, let’s remember those who stood beside him but were often forgotten - and let's celebrate the joy within our own queer community and stand united against injustice.

Stay in the know

Get updates on LGBTQ+ news, events, and ways to be involved!
303 E. 17th Ave, Suite 400, Denver, CO 80203
(303) 396-6170info@one-colorado.org
One Colorado
Our Focus
Take Action
Progress
Resources
Programs
Latest
Donate
Events
Action Fund
State Advocacy
Legislative Reports
Legislation Tracker
Endorsements
Donate
General
Team
Careers
Contact
Board Login
© 2023 One Colorado. All rights reserved.
Branding and website by Luum Studio
Privacy PolicyAccessibilityTerms of ServiceCookies Settings