The development of Indigenous psychologies in Asia—such as in the Philippines, China, Malaysia, and Korea—emerged as a response to the lasting impacts of colonialism and neocolonialism. These movements were led by psychologists and scholar-advocates who challenged the limitations of Western psychological frameworks, which often fail to resolve the deep-rooted cultural and societal issues shaped by centuries of oppression. Colonial invasions by European powers in the 14th century, and later by the U.S. and Japan, caused widespread suffering, disease, destruction, deaths, and the erasure of Indigenous identities in Asia. These historical injustices left behind intergenerational trauma and colonial mentality, effects that still linger today. Decolonial psychology is a growing framework that actively resists the dominance of Eurocentric worldviews and the psychological legacies of colonization (Maldonado-Torres, 2017). It is complemented by Indigenous psychology, which draws on pre-colonial knowledge systems, healing methods, and values to solve present-day issues within Indigenous communities.


In the Filipino context, Sikolohiyang Pilipino (SP)—the Indigenous psychology of the Philippines—will be explored in depth. This includes its origins, development, and liberating contributions to healing. Using Virgilio Enriquez's (1994) framework on indigenization, two key approaches are examined: "indigenization from without," which adapts external methods to local contexts; and "indigenization from within," which revives Indigenous practices rooted in Filipino culture. Examples include research methodologies, healing methods, spiritual rituals, ancestral beliefs, folk wisdom, herbal medicine, nature-based practices, community protests, and collective action and healing. Together, these approaches offer culturally grounded alternatives to Western paradigms, promoting healing, liberation and empowerment from historical marginalization and oppression.