Australian First Nations peoples have survived and resisted colonial trauma. We carry profound trauma stemming from historical and ongoing colonization. While conventional Western therapeutic approaches like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Narrative Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy can help process trauma and be beneficial for the healing journey of First Nations communities, they need to be centred in culture and Country and be culturally adapted and delivered with sensitivity. The river ecology model, created by and designed for Australian First Nations people, offers a metaphorical framework to comprehend well-being through the lens of the river. It can be used outside of First Nations communities and be tailored for individual and group use. The river ecology serves as a valuable tool for practitioners to support First Nations people in recognizing their current position in the river and guiding them towards a pathway to healing, creating their own stories of survival, resistance, healing and recovery.