Epistemic homelessness | Guilaine Kinouani | TEDxUCLWomen

Epistemic homelessness: ‘Feeling like a stranger in a familiar land with no anchor and no support’

In this talk, analytically-minded therapist Guilaine Kinouani introduces the idea of epistemic homelessness; the idea that not being certain in our knowledge can lead to a lack of home. Guilaine links this idea to the mental health of people of colour based on her therapeutic work, and explores how experiences of subtle racism and microaggressions can leave someone epistemically homeless.

TW: discussion of racism and psychological distress

Guilaine is an intersectional feminist, an equality consultant, a therapist and writer. Her analyses are rooted in her social location as a Black French woman, a migrant, and a (proud) child of the Banlieue with solid roots in Africa. She aspires to promote more sociopolitical understandings of psychological distress and of being in the world. She is currently completing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Guilaine Kinouani is an intersectional feminist, an equality consultant, a therapist and writer. Her analyses are rooted in her social location as a Black French woman, a migrant, and a (proud) child of the Banlieue with solid roots in Africa. She aspires to promote more sociopolitical understandings of psychological distress and of being in the world. She is currently completing her doctorate in Clinical Psychology. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx