5 - (SYM 1) Minookmii - Sacred Tracks upon the Earth

The Minookmii Structured Psychotherapy Program adapts the Ontario Structured Psychotherapy model, integrating Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with Indigenous healing practices to meet the mental health needs of Indigenous clients. Rooted in Two-Eyed Seeing, Minookmii recognizes both structured intervention and relational healing as essential therapeutic mechanisms. Minookmii also incorporates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Narrative Exposure Therapy for trauma processing.

Minookmii culturally adaptats CBT principles to enhance relevance for Indigenous clients. Minookmii therapists integrate storytelling, land-based practices, and cultural teachings, fostering a decolonized, narrative approach to cognitive and emotional change. Minookmii operates within a wrap-around wholistic care model, extending beyond therapy to include land-based healing. Clients engage in cultural activities such as equine-assisted interventions, which emphasize nervous system regulation through embodied learning. These interventions, along with mindfulness, movement, and land engagement, support trauma recovery across spiritual, emotional, and physical dimensions.

Minookmii expands conventional CBT by recognizing the therapeutic relationship itself as an intervention, reflecting the Indigenous principle that “relationships are medicine.” The therapeutic alliance is not merely a means of delivering treatment but a healing force in its own right. By fostering relational trust and creating a culturally safe space, Minookmii deepens client engagement, promoting sustainable psychological and emotional growth beyond symptom reduction.

 
Quantitative data from January 1, 2022 through December 31, 2024 provide preliminary evidence for comparable treatment completion and efficacy rates. Among clients enrolled in Minookmii versus standard OSP treatment, 72.6% (total n=329) versus 73.4% (total n=5,782) completed treatment. Among enrolled clients who completed Minookmii versus standard OSP treatment, and for whom we have data from their first and last treatment sessions, 72.1% versus 69.6% achieved reliable improvement as measured by the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, and 53.2% versus 48.2% achieved recovery. Qualitative analysis highlights themes of improved emotional regulation, cultural identity integration, personal agency, and increased ability to reframe distress and apply CBT strategies effectively.