Overview

A powerful memoir that explores how one Indigenous woman from the Pilbara transformed psychology From humble beginnings in the remote Pilbara, psychologist and Nyamal woman Tracy Westerman has redefined what's possible at every turn. Despite neither of her parents progressing past primary school, and never having met a psychologist before attending university, Tracy went on to become the first Aboriginal person in Australia to complete a PhD in Clinical Psychology, rising to become one of the country's foremost psychologists. Against significant odds, she commenced her own private business to challenge the way the mental health profession responds to cultural difference, and recently established a charitable foundation and scholarship program to mentor Indigenous people from our highest-risk communities to become psychologists. In this ground-breaking memoir, Tracy draws on client stories of trauma, heartbreak, hope and connection from her years of practice, offering a no-holds-barred reflection on how the monocultural, one-size-fits-all approach to psychology is failing Aboriginal people and how she's healing those wounds. Jilya is a story of drive and determination, of what it takes to create change when the odds are stacked against you. Above all, it is a story of one woman's love for her people.

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9780702268694

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Reviews

'These pages helped me heal and get my strength back that grief had stolen from me after losing Mum and Dad. I know these pages will also have the ability to help others understand our culture and the intergenerational trauma we have carried through our lives. This book will definitely open hearts and minds, and it put me on the right track to heal and feel like me again.' Troy Cassar-Daley 'I've long admired Dr Tracy Westerman's work and her unrelenting pursuit of the delivery of appropriate care for the most vulnerable among us. Self-determination and a re-examination of commonly held practices and beliefs when it comes to the delivery of critical mental health services to Aboriginal people lie at the centre of Dr Westerman's work. This book is more important now than ever before as we seek to build an understanding between Aboriginal people and the rest of Australia and of why so many policies have failed to deliver positive outcomes. This book explains why and roadmaps those solutions.' Brooke Boney 'A story of grit, insight and, especially, hope. Tracy Westerman, a luminous pioneer in the field of culture-informed psychology, writes with a powerful urgency and clarity that is sorely needed.' Julia Baird 'Affliction strips us of our humanity - we become nothing - then a miracle happens and we realise the sufferer is us, all of us. Tracy Westerman makes us human and whole - read this and be better.' Stan Grant 'Validation and affirmation on every page. Tracy Westerman's lived experience is our learning moment.' Narelda Jacobs 'Tracy shows us a pathway to treatment and healing, not just for individuals, but also their families and whole communities. Everyone who reads Tracy's book will have a much deeper insight into the individual and collective trauma of Aboriginal people. But also an understanding of how those problems and traumas can be treated and addressed.' Lucy Hughes Turnbull AO

Author Information

Tracy Westerman is a proud Nyamal woman from the Pilbara region of Western Australia. She has a PhD in Psychology and is the owner and founder of Indigenous Psychological Services. She is a recognised world leader in Aboriginal mental health, cultural competency and suicide prevention, achieving national and international recognition for her work. She has received many awards including an Order of Australia, Telstra Women's Business Award Winner (WA) and Australian of the Year (WA).

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