Moving Towards an Abolitionist Praxis: Roots, Blossoms, and Seeds from an Occupational Therapy Doctoral Resident

Authors

  • Janis Wan-Lai Yue University of Southern California

Keywords:

child welfare system, abolition, transformative justice, BIPOC mental health

Abstract

This essay traces my personal roots as an Asian-American woman with a father diagnosed with bipolar disorder and the impact of my lived experiences on my professional journey as a pediatric mental health occupational therapist. I highlight three exemplary client stories from my year as a doctoral resident at a community-based mental health agency that have furthered my critical analysis of our current child welfare system. Finally, I reflect upon the importance of collectively developing an abolitionist praxis as occupational therapists and health workers at large who are committed to building equitable systems of care that do not further harm structurally marginalized community members.

Author Biography

Janis Wan-Lai Yue, University of Southern California

Janis Wan-Lai Yue, OTD, OTR/L is Assistant Professor of Clinical Occupational Therapy, USC Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA and Practicing Occupational Therapist, The Violence Intervention Program, Los Angeles, CA (janisyue@usc.edu).

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Published

2023-11-29

How to Cite

Wan-Lai Yue, J. (2023). Moving Towards an Abolitionist Praxis: Roots, Blossoms, and Seeds from an Occupational Therapy Doctoral Resident. Reflections: Narratives of Professional Helping, 29(3), 11–22. Retrieved from https://reflectionsnarrativesofprofessionalhelping.org/index.php/Reflections/article/view/2017

Issue

Vol. 29 No. 3 (2023)

Section

Table of Contents

License

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