About the Book
Endorsed by Professor John McLeod, the co-founder of the Pluralistic Approach to Counselling and Psychotherapy. Decolonised Minds: When Radical Becomes Rational offers a bold and timely framework for transforming psychotherapy, counselling, and mental health practice. At its core, this book dismantles the lingering legacy of colonialism in the therapeutic encounter, exposing how Eurocentric assumptions continue to shape the ways we understand, diagnose, and treat psychological distress.
Drawing on lived experience, global case studies, and critical theory, Talha AlAli illuminates how racism, Islamophobia, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, and structural inequalities infiltrate therapeutic spaces. He argues that to decolonise therapy is not simply to diversify knowledge or practice, but to unlearn and relearn the very foundations of what counts as care.
Accessible and deeply grounded in scholarship, the book balances critique with practical tools. It includes worksheets, reflective inventories, and thought-provoking exercises that invite practitioners to examine their own positionality, biases, and responsibilities. AlAli challenges readers to move beyond tokenistic "cultural competence" and toward humility, solidarity, epistemic justice, and genuine accountability.
Decolonised Minds speaks to students, trainees, and seasoned practitioners alike. It offers a radical yet rational vision of psychotherapy - one rooted in belonging, connection, community, and history. By placing lived experience and ancestral wisdom alongside contemporary theory and practice, AlAli shows that decolonising therapy is not optional, but essential to ethical and effective care.
Endorsed by leading voices in psychotherapy and beyond, this book is both a mirror and a roadmap: it reflects the societies in which we practise while guiding us toward a more just, humane, and liberated future.
About the Author :
Talha AlAli, MSc, MA, is a Palestinian psychotherapist and founder of Decolonised Minds, a platform dedicated to decolonised, culturally grounded and politically conscious approaches to mental health. With nearly two decades of clinical and humanitarian experience, Talha has worked extensively with survivors of war, torture, and forced displacement across the Middle East, North Africa, Eastern Europe, and Ireland.He began his career working with children and adults affected by war trauma in Palestine, including survivors of torture, and then he moved to Jordan, where he joined Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Over the years, he has held key roles with MSF in several conflict zones-including Libya, Ukraine, and Bangladesh-where he managed mental health teams, provided therapy, and led capacity-building efforts for local professionals. His work included supporting survivors in Libyan detention centres, offering psychological care for children in MSF's reconstructive surgery hospital in Jordan, and reaching war-affected communities in occupied eastern Ukraine. In Bangladesh, he worked with survivors of sexual and gender-based violence and children subjected to labour exploitation.Now based in Ireland, besides his private practice, Talha works as a psychotherapist with the Irish Red Cross (as of October 2025), providing therapeutic support to survivors of trauma and forced displacement. He has also worked in homeless shelters and with unaccompanied minors seeking asylum.Talha holds a BSc in Psychology and Counselling, a Master's in Community Mental Health, an MA in Psychology, and an MSc in Pluralistic Counselling and Psychotherapy. His work is grounded in trauma-informed, culturally responsive care and a deep commitment to social justice. Decolonised Minds reflects his dedication to reimagining psychotherapy through an ethical, political, and decolonial lens.
Review :
Decolonised Minds: When Radical Becomes Rational"Essential reading for counsellors and psychotherapists seeking to practise with social justice and decolonial awareness. AlAli offers accessible, inspiring guidance grounded in theory, research, and lived experience."
- John McLeod, Emeritus Professor of Counselling, Abertay University
"A powerful analysis of how the residue of colonialism undermines therapy. AlAli challenges practitioners to move beyond tokenism toward humility, solidarity, and justice."
- Professor Ronni Michelle Greenwood, University of Limerick
"Packed with insights and reflections on the colonisation of land, body, and psyche. This work compels us to unlearn, relearn, and rethink the very foundations of therapy."
- Dr. Marguerite Woods
"A powerful message at a critical time in global history. Talha combines ancient wisdom with modern science to show us how to heal. Grá Mór."
- Blue Niall, Artist
