Season 1, Episode 11: Gabes Torres, Maggie Hemphill, and Danielle S. Castillejo speak about decolonization, race, faith, and the impact on bodies of color.

Gabes (she/they) is a researcher, artist, theologian, speaker, and psychotherapist in training. Her life’s work is to demonstrate how there’s nothing “post-” about postcolonialism, and that the effects of historical and oppressive conquest permeated the ideologies, cultures, languages, literature, human behaviors, inter- and intrapersonal relationships, and spiritual practices we have today. 

With agency and integrity, her passion is to research the practices and therapeutic approaches that decolonize the mind, body, and spirituality of underrepresented groups who have been suffering from generational oppression and marginalization.

Her research is carried through by the influences of esteemed educators, authors, and practitioners such as Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, Letty M. Russell, Paulo Freire, Linda Tuhiwai Smith, Melba Maggay, E.J.R. David, Peter Levine, Miroslav Volf, Homi K. Bhabha, Shelly Rambo, David Bosch, and so forth.

She completed a Bachelor’s in Historical Theology at the Moody Bible Institute, Chicago because of her fascination towards the birth and growth of the Western church and its significant influence on Christianity in the Philippines. She recently completed a Master’s in Theology and Culture at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology, and is continuing with a Master’s in Counseling Psychology. She intends to pursue PhD work that concentrates on the integration of spirituality and the social psychology of intergenerational and racial trauma.

Gabes currently works at The Allender Center, and has been enjoying her time living and growing in the city of Seattle. In her spare time, she writes poetry and songs, and performs them at her live shows. She independently produced 3 albums of original music, and has toured in Southeast Asia, Chicago, San Francisco, and Seattle.

Therapeutic Services: As part of her clinical training, Gabes works as a psychotherapist intern at MEND Institute in Seattle, which has a social justice-oriented and intersectional feminist approach in therapy.

Gabes’ caseload is currently full, and there is no waitlist at this time.

Support Gabes: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-gabes-stay

Writing: https://gabestorres.com/blog/

Speaking: https://gabestorres.com/speaking/

Music: https://gabestorres.com/music/

 

Well, first I guess I would have to believe that there was or is an actual political dialogue taking place that I could potentially be a part of. And honestly, I'm not sure that I believe that.