Fofoga Therapy

08/08/2021

19/07/2021

Tulou: Our Pacific Voices - Tatala e Pulonga is part of the Royal Commission Enquiry into the abuse in state care.

I wanted to be part of this. I chose this. Walking away from an amazing team at ACM to attend this for the next 2 weeks.

Yet being part of this historical event in my community hits on another level. Unlike other public hearings the Fale o Samoa was filled with song, vibrant colours, food and youth.

There was prayer, laying of the proverbial mats or fofola le fala from all over Pasifika and there was more food.

Then there were the stories, our stories from our Pasifika people (present and those no longer with us). Oi aue! The tears that could finally be shed, and the tears on the inside that still could not.

A re-telling of stories, a re-claiming of those who were lost to the system, a re-connecting with our heritage and ourselves.

And the dark cloud of shame and pain can begin to shift - Tatala e pulonga. I'm exactly where I need to be.

28/05/2021

About a month ago, in spite my anxiety of getting it wrong and sounding clumsy I took up the challenge to be more visible in our community and agreed to this interview with Eteuati Ete on 531pi

**I wish someone had told me to zoom out 🤣🤣🥴

23/04/2021

Last year in the midst of Covid I approached my family to help name my private practice. The name Fofoga was chosen as it has different meanings in Samoan.

Fofoga is the respectful term for face and for voice. It also means 'ie toga or fine mat.

It means 'face' as in the way that you meet someone face to face. It means 'voice' as in what you use to be heard and how you express yourself.

Fofoga is also the word for the feathers on the 'ie toga or fine mat.

In Samoan culture 'ie toga is passed through different families and communities through many significant occasions (funerals, weddings, ifoga, saofai).

The fofoga of the 'ie toga follow us through the journey of life experiencing joy, sorrow, happiness, sadness, celebration and mourning.

Fofoga therapy helps to face into something that can be painful or during a difficult period in your life.

It can be a place to voice your struggle in confidence and share what you've been carrying. In this talanoa something has the potential to shift, to open up and be heard and allow healing to begin

**Here is a photo of my friend Karlene and I during our Psychotherapy training gluing new fofoga to an 'ie toga that was gifted as a taonga at AUT Psychotherapy department. We are two of a very small handful of Pasifika psychotherapists.