Treating Internalized Oppression (TIO) is a case conceptualization framework. At its core, TIO respects that oppression and internalized oppression is a factor in any distress patterns, emotional concerns, relationship conflicts, etc. that clients bring to therapy. The framework includes an assessment of the oppression identities of all clients and client systems at the onset of treatment.

We believe that by utilizing an assessment of oppression in our clients’ lives, we are able to build a treatment plan with more attention to anti-oppression interventions. This supports clinicians in their ethical mandate of non-discriminatory practices as well as providing more attuned and accurate support to clients.

Additionally, TIO takes clinicians through a conceptualization process that includes identifying core clinical issues relevant to the oppression that are evident in the distress patterns and concerns that motivate the request for treatment. When we account for the core clinical issue(s) as well as the oppression(s) in a client or relational system, we can select anti-oppression interventions more attuned to the clients’ specific needs, creating emotionally corrective experiences for clients within sessions as well as in their personal and relational experiences.