Traditional clinical psychological assessment follows a western paradigm of
interaction, which relies heavily on verbalisations of internal and external
symptoms. This process relies upon the assumption of and acceptance that tangata
whaiora (consumer/s) are able to do this. Training encourages a clinical
psychologist to take into account differences which may or may not be obvious,
e.g., differences in religious beliefs, gender, hearing, or sight. However, as
clinicians we often neglect to assess tangata whaiora abilities to verbalise such
information. Te Pounamu, as a Māori model demonstrates the underlying
principles of Te Tiriti O Waitangi. Providing the best treatment outcomes is about
acknowledging all aspects of one’s wellbeing: physical, mental, spiritual, and
whānau. Te Pounamu provides a process that acknowledges such aspects in a way
of knowing that is healing. From clinical experience, the interactive mode that Te
Pounamu utilises has been found efficacious in assisting tangata whaiora to
understand how such factors contribute to poor mental health.
