Han Ren on Decolonizing Mental Health

Voices of Esalen

Dr. Han Ren is a practitioner of decolonial mental health: she offers liberation-oriented, anti-oppressive, culturally informed therapy, and practices from a justice-oriented, systems-informed framework. Some of her specialties include Asian-American mental health, anxiety, perfectionism, high achievers, children of immigrants/third culture kids, anti-racism, and parenting. Dr. Ren is also a force to be reckoned with on TikTok, amassing a large following on a platform she uses in an attempt to make therapy accessible and applicable to our everyday lives. Together we talked about how white supremacy can be internalized, what it looks like when you center BIPOC mental health in treatment, how one decolonizes language, the conceptual shift from a dyadic trauma perspective to a more collective, societal notion of trauma, and her struggles as a recovering perfectionist. Upcoming at Esalen: Money should never be a barrier to transformation. Our scholarship program features up to 90% coverage of workshop tuition and accommodations, travel expenses, and a mission to increase diversity. If you’re interested in coming to Esalen to learn, be, and explore, we’re accepting applications now. We’ll also accept support of this amazing program if you want to give and support personal transformation for others. Apply or Give Visit: https://www.esalen.org/visit/scholarships Do you seek answers about the meaning of life… or what it means to be happy from the broadest possible perspective? R.D. Laing in the 21st Century is a workshop exploring the practical aspects of Laing’s legacy August 30 - September 3rd. This workshop is best suited for those familiar with Laing - at one time the most widely-read psychiatrist in the world. His take on altered states, the nature of love, authenticity, and spirituality forms the foundation for workshop leaders Michael Guy Thompson, Nita Gage, and Fritjof Capra. Explore fundamental happiness through experiential exercises for modern life and an ongoing journey of self. Register now: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/r-d-laing-in-the-21st-century-what-is-happiness What’s your number? If you apply the numbers theory of personality, you may be able to do more profound inner work for a big impact on the world. Together, Russ Hudson - renown enneagram expert - and Dr. Deborah Egerton - diversity and inclusion specialist, who’s known as the Enneagram Jedi - launch an incredible new program at Esalen August 15 - 20. You’ll cultivate a deeper understanding of the Enneagram process of self-observation to free yourself from the roots of your own biases to become a true agent of healing in the world. Register: https://www.esalen.org/workshops/the-enneagram-social-justice-and-racial-healing