Understanding the Connection Between Systemic Oppression and Trauma
For too long, mainstream psychology has treated trauma as an individual experience—something that happens to a person rather than something embedded within the structures of society. But the reality is that trauma is deeply intertwined with systemic oppression. At the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, we understand that racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism, and other forms of systemic injustice don’t just exist in isolation; they actively shape our experiences, identities, and mental health.
When marginalized communities experience discrimination, state-sanctioned violence, or exclusion from healthcare and education, these aren't just isolated stressors. They are chronic, cumulative traumas—ones that impact emotional well-being, self-worth, and physical health over time. And yet, traditional therapeutic models often fail to acknowledge these structural realities, leaving many to navigate their pain without validation or systemic change.
The Trauma of Oppression: Beyond the Individual Lens
Oppression-based trauma is distinct from individual trauma in that it is:
Ongoing and Repetitive: Unlike a singular traumatic event, oppression-based trauma occurs throughout a person’s life, across generations, and within institutions that shape daily existence.
Communal and Intergenerational: Families and communities pass down both the wounds of oppression and the resilience that emerges in response to it.
Rooted in Systems of Power: It’s not just about personal experiences of discrimination; it’s about how policies, laws, and cultural narratives uphold inequality and create environments of harm.
For example, research shows that Black and Indigenous communities carry intergenerational trauma linked to colonization, enslavement, and systemic displacement. LGBTQIA+ individuals often experience heightened anxiety and hypervigilance due to societal rejection and legal discrimination. Latinx immigrants, particularly those who are undocumented, face chronic fear of deportation, which exacerbates stress-related disorders. These are not individual pathologies but collective wounds inflicted by oppressive systems.
Why Therapy Must Be a Space for Social Justice
As mental health professionals, we cannot separate trauma from oppression, nor can we remain neutral in the face of systemic injustice. If therapy is to be truly healing, it must be a space where clients feel seen in the fullness of their lived experiences—including the realities of racism, classism, heteronormativity, and xenophobia.
A Social Justice Approach to Trauma Therapy Includes:
Naming Oppression as a Source of Trauma – Clients from marginalized backgrounds need their pain contextualized, not pathologized. Acknowledging oppression as a valid and ongoing source of trauma can be affirming and healing.
Decolonizing Therapeutic Models – Many traditional therapy frameworks center whiteness and individualism while ignoring the collective and community-based healing practices that many cultures value. Decolonizing therapy means integrating culturally affirming approaches that honor ancestral knowledge, community care, and holistic wellness.
Addressing Power Dynamics in the Therapy Room – Therapists must be aware of how their identities, privileges, and biases shape the therapeutic space. Transparency, humility, and a commitment to anti-oppressive practice help create an equitable and affirming environment.
Advocacy Beyond the Therapy Room – Healing doesn’t just happen in session; it happens in policies, movements, and community activism. Therapists committed to social justice must also advocate for systemic change—whether through policy reform, community engagement, or activism.
Holding Space for Resistance and Resilience – Oppression inflicts harm, but it also fosters resistance. Therapy should be a space where clients explore not just their pain but also their resilience, joy, and agency in fighting for justice.
A Call to Action
Therapists have a responsibility to not only support individual healing but to challenge the systems that cause harm in the first place. This means moving beyond neutrality and embracing a social justice-oriented practice that validates the lived realities of marginalized individuals.
Systemic oppression perpetuates trauma. But social justice-oriented therapy can be a powerful force for healing, resistance, and transformation. It is not enough to treat the symptoms—we must address the root causes. If we are truly committed to mental health, we must also be committed to dismantling oppression.
At the Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy, we believe in therapy as a tool for both individual and collective liberation. We are here to support those navigating the emotional toll of systemic injustice and to foster healing that is affirming, radical, and rooted in justice.
Let’s work together to create a world where healing is not just personal but political—where therapy doesn’t just help people survive but empowers them to thrive.
Are you looking for a therapist who understands the impact of systemic oppression? Contact us today to find culturally affirming, social justice-centered support.
Aguirre Center for Inclusive Psychotherapy
Providing culturally-affirming, anti-oppressive and inclusive counseling and therapy in Atlanta, Georgia and beyond.