Catherine RichardsonCatherine Richardson, PhD (UVic),
Associate Professor

PhD (Child and Youth Care) University of Victoria, 2004
Masters of Education (Counselling Psychology) UVic, 1998
PDPP (Secondary Education, French Specialization) UVic, 1992
BA (1st Class, French & Political Science) UVic, 1991

UVic Office: HSD B342
UVic Phone: 250-472-4632
Fax: 250-721-6228
Email: cathyr@uvic.ca
*On leave until July 1, 2015

Professional Information & Research Interests | Selected Publications | Conferences & Keynotes | Selected Grants & Awards | Recent Courses Taught

Professional Information & Research Interests

My research priorities include studying the connections between violence, responses to violence and language in the helping professions. This work relates most specifically to Indigenous children and families, who tend to be involved with government systems such as child welfare.

My research has included studying the connections between the helping professions and colonization, Metis and Indigenous identity, response-based practice, and extended systems of family therapy. Applications of this research include the development of programs in areas of counselling, child welfare, education and social well-being.

My interest in Indigenous issues focuses on the development of decolonizing, liberatory and anti-oppressive approaches in child welfare settings. I am advancing knowledge and practice in the area of supporting children in state care through increased family connectedness and cultural participation. This research is situated within a larger epistemological framework of understanding the interconnectedness between personal, collective, and ecological well-being, in alignment with an Indigenous worldview.

back to top

Selected Publications

Books & Book Sections

  • Richardson, C. & Wade, A. (2012). Creating islands of safety: Contesting "failure to protects and mother-blaming in child protection cases of paternal violence against children and mothers. In S. Strega, J. Krane, S. LaPierre, & C. Richardson (Eds.), Failure to protect: Moving beyond gendered responses to violence. Winnipeg, MB: Fernwood.
  • Carriere, J., & Richardson, C. (2009). From longing to belonging: An Indigenous critique of applying attachment theory to work with Indigenous families. In S. McKay, D. Fuchs, & I. Brown (Eds.), Passion for action in child and family services. Regina, SK: Canadian Plains Press.
  • Richardson, C., & Seaborn, D. (2009). From audacity to aplomb: Understanding the Metis. In R. Sinclair, M. Hart, & G. Bruyere (Eds.), Indigenous social work in Canada: Practices and perspectives. Winnipeg, MB: Fernwood.
  • Richardson, C. (2008). Metis experiences of social work practice. In S. Strega & J. Carriere (Eds.), Walking this path together: Anti-racist and anti-oppressive child welfare practice. Winnipeg, MB: Fernwood.
  • Richardson, C. (2008). A word is worth a thousand pictures: Working with Aboriginal women who have experienced violence. In Lynda R. Ross (Ed.), Feminist counselling: Theories, issues and practice. Toronto: Women's Press.
  • Richardson, C., & Wade, A. (2008). Taking resistance seriously: A response-based approach to social work in cases of violence against Indigenous women. In S. Strega & J. Carriere (Eds.), Walking this path together: Anti-racist and anti-oppressive child welfare practice. Winnipeg, MB: Fernwood.

Journal Articles

  • Richardson, C., & Reynolds, V. (2014, accepted). Structuring safety in therapeutic work alongside Indigenous survivors of residential schools. Canadian Journal of Native Studies, 34(2), fall.
  • Carriere, J. & Richardson, C. (2013, in press). Relationship is everything: Holistic approaches to Aboriginal child and youth mental health. First Peoples Child and Family Review.
  • Richardson, C., Thomas, R., Green, J., & Ormiston, T. (2012). Indigenous specializations: Dreams, development, delivery and vision. Australian Journal of Indigenous Education, 41(2), pp. 173-180. 
  • Richardson, C., & Reynolds, V. (2012). Here we are, amazingly alive in the work: Holding ourselves together with an ethic of social justice in community work. International Journal of Child, Youth and Family Studies, 3(1), 1-19. 
  • Richardson, C., & Wade, A. (2010). Islands of safety: Restoring dignity in violence-prevention work with Indigenous families. First Peoples Child and Family Review, 5(1), 137-155.
  • Richardson, C., &Nelson, B. (2007). A change of residence: From residential schools to foster homes as sites of Aboriginal cultural assimilation. First Peoples Child and Family Review, 3(2).
  • Richardson, C. (2006). Metis tactical resistance to colonization and oppression. Variegations, 2. 56-71.

back to top

Selected Conferences & Keynotes

Keynote Addresses

  • Richardson, C. (2012, Nov). Dignity in the Best Place on Earth. British Columbia Society of Transition Houses Conference. Richmond, B.C.
  • Richardson, C. (2010, April). Islands of safety. Failure to Protect Conference. University of Victoria, Victoria, BC. SSHRC funded.
  • Richardson, C. (2006, March). Supporting Metis Children. Metis National Council Early Childhood Development Conference. Ottawa.

Unpublished Conference Papers & Poster Presentations

  • Richardson, C. (2012, Nov). Presentation of Creating Positive Social Pesponses in Work With First Nations and Metis Families in Canada at The Response to Interpersonal Violence Network research meeting in Cape Town, South Africa.
  • Richardson, C. (2012, May). Islands of Safety: Responding to Violence in Metis and First Nations Families with Attention to Safety, Dignity and Social Justice. Winds of Change. Ottawa, Ontario.
  • Richardson, C. (2012). Response-based practice. Therapeutic Conversations X. Vancouver.
  • Richardson, C. (2012). Islands of Safety and Response-Based. Richardson, C., & Moran Bonilla, P. (2011, August). Resistencia indigena y la celebraciion continua de la tierra, justicia y dignidad. Paper presented at World Indigenous Peoples Conference on Education, Cusco, Peru.
  • Richardson, C. & Reynolds, V. (2011, April 29). Staying alive in the work and supervision of solidarity. Paper presented at "Child & Youth Care in Action III: Leading Conversations in Research, Practice & Policy," Conference. University of Victoria, Victoria, BC.
  • Richardson, C. & Carriere, J. (2009, October 22). Creating islands of safety. Paper presented at "Awakening the Spirit: Moving Forward in Child Welfare," Conference. Winnipeg, MB.
  • Richardson, C. & Carriere, J. (2009, October). Creating connection and belonging for Indigenous children in care. Paper presented at Prairie Child Welfare Symposium. Winnipeg, MB.
  • Richardson, C. (2009, April). Beyond audacity and aplomb: Working with Metis youth and families to consolidate Metis cultural identity. Paper presented at the University of Victoria Centre for Youth and Society Conference. Victoria, BC.
  • Richardson, C., & Carriere, J. (2009, March). Cultural planning and response-based practice for Indigenous child wellness. Paper presented at the Third International Meeting on Indigenous Child Health: Many Voices Into One Song (Canadian Paediatric Society). Albuquerque, New Mexico.
  • Thomas, R., Green, J., Richardson, C., & Ormiston, T. (2008, December). Indigenous specializations: Dreams, developments, delivery and vision. Paper presented at the World Indigenous Peoples' Conference on Education. Melbourne, Australia.

Invited Public Presentations

  • Richardson, C. (2012, Nov). Make Children First! Response-based practice workshops for childcare providers: Working for children who have been exposed to violence and trauma. Interior Family Services. Kamloops, BC. 
  • Richardson, C. (2012, May 8). On Saying Hullo Again," An Indigenous opening to the Therapeutic Conversations X Conference. Vancouver, BC.
  • Richardson, C. (2012, May 9). Panel member. Developing Collective Narrative Practices in Countries Experiencing Trauma and Genocide, with David Denborough. Therapeutic Conversations X Conference. Vancouver, BC.
  • Richardson, C. (2012, May 12). Panel member.  Assisting the Survivors of the Tsunami in Samoa and the Earthquake in Christchurch, with Kiwi Tamasese and Charles Waldegrave. Therapeutic Conversations X Conference. Vancouver, BC.
  • Richardson, C. (2012, March 1). The results of Revolutionizing Risky Conversations, a project supported with a grant from the Teaching and Learning Centre.
  • Richardson, C. (2011, December 6). The importance of an intersectional analysis when addressing violence against Indigenous women. Presentation at National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. University of Victoria.
  • Richardson, C., Maje-Rader, A. (2011, June 15). Together for justice: Creating safety in community for Indigenous women. Panel presentation at National Aboriginal Women's Forum. Vancouver, BC.
  • Richardson, C. (2009, May). Delegate at the Eighth Session of the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, New York. This consisted of participating in one week of meetings.

back to top

Selected Grants & Awards

  • "Promoting Health Through Collaborative Engagement with Youth in Canada: Overcoming, Resisting, and Preventing Structural Violence," C. Richandson and H. Berman, CIHR. (2011)
  • "Revolutionizing Risky Conversations," C. Richardson, University of Victoria Teaching and Learning Centre Grant. (2010)
  • "Best Practices - Creating Islands of Safety for Children and Families," C. Richardson, Internal SSHRC Research Grant. (2009)
  • "Phase 2 of the Islands of Safety project, model testing with families on southern Vancouver Island in conjunction with the BC Ministry of Children and Family Development and Metis Community Services," C. Richardson, Law Foundation of British Columbia. (2008)
  • "Islands of Safety violence cessation model for Metis and First Nations families," C. Richardson, Law Foundation of British Columbia. (2007)
back to top

Recent Courses Taught

  • SOCW 580 - Countering Colonialism in the Helping Profession
  • SOCW 354 - Introduction to Indigenous Issues
  • SOCW 551 - Indigenous Communities
  • SJS 200 - Introduction to the Practice of Social Justice
  • SOCW 523 - Self-Conscious Traditionalism in Indigenous Social Work Practice Seminar
  • SOCW 451 - Indigenous Policy Issues in Social Work
  • SOCW 527 - Research Methods
back to top