This will be an exciting year for new presentations, Workshops, talks, and the promise of my new book ‘A Black Empathic Approach to Psychotherapy-From Rage to Compassion’. The book is in the hands of the publishers, whom I expect to hear from soon.
The book presents a culmination of thirty years work in the field of psychotherapy and counselling. It portrays insights from workshops, talks, and dynamic interactions that address the impact of anti-black racism. It offers consideration of diversity and sameness and the ethical consequences of ignoring the impact of anti-black racism on identity and personal development. It invites readers to engage with the idea that we all have the potential to process, evaluate and emerge from oppressions that may have shut us down and created low self-esteem and voicelessness.
The book promises an ethical commitment to black lives matter and the emergence of black minds from the trauma of racism. It is an invitation to merge the political with personal and psychological, in therapeutic relationships. Most importantly, I share my journey as a psychotherapist, researcher, writer and person of colour.
Workshops and Talks
On the 23rd of January I shall be presenting a talk on ‘Recognition trauma’, one of the concepts from my original research growing from book one, ‘Black issues in the therapeutic Process.
Recognition Trauma: Dialogue in Anti-Racist Therapy
A supportive and engaging environment to talk
An opportunity to discuss:
· a key concept in my work with Anti-racist therapy training
· learn to identify and explore the concept of Recognition Trauma and its role in discussions about anti-black racism.
· consider exploring and managing the emotional responses that emerge in training and professional contexts.
· consider the development of initial tools to navigate the discomfort and resistance that can accompany these critical conversations
· Reflect on questions about exploring intersections of personal and collective responses to anti-black racism in a mixed group.
This workshop can be an introduction for individuals who register for the Challenge workshop on 7th 8th Februrary. Pre-booked individuals can receive a free place and a recording of the talk on January 23rd.
Here is the link for booking https://www.baatn.org.uk/challenge-of-racism-in-therapeutic-practice-february- 2025/#!event-register/2025/2/7/online-training-the-challenge-of-racism-in-therapeutic-practice
On February 8th I shall be presenting a keynote talk at the ‘Online Events’ Conference: ‘Into the Wild Woods: Existential Responses to Turbulent Times.
Title:
EMERGING FROM MENTAL DEFORESTATION - EMERGING FROM MENTAL DEFORESTATION - The Wild Woods of Identity and Fear of Annihilation.
Using poetry as respite from the wild woods, this talk will share personal experiences, and concepts about unlocking the influence of colonisation, emotional plundering and mental deforestation.
In the wild woods of identity where divisions, and plundering are common features that influence being, there is ongoing threat of mental deforestation and annihilation of environmental roots and authenticity.
The existentialist philosopher Jean-Paul Satre introduced the concept of ‘the gaze’ 1943 suggesting that the act of gazing at another human being creates a subjective power difference, felt by the gazer, and by the gazed at. Consequently, the person being gazed at is perceived as an object, not as a human being, as in plundering of identity and roots.
Lacan (2009) referred to the symbolic order, influenced by the gaze, for example, the male gaze, from which gender hierarchies and divisions emanate. He suggested that once a child has learned the rules of society, it becomes more content. But what if these rules are damaging to the psyche and erode the food and fruit of our true nature and development.
Kaval (2023) offers examples of the ‘Racist Gaze’, this being an impingement on the psyche that can affect us every day and lower self-esteem. He refers to this phenomenon as an ‘agonising, often unspeakable, assault on the psyche’, I view this as the wild woods of negotiating environment and identity.
This damaging and confusing state can create an unstable identity experience for individuals. A confused identity can disturb responses to an experience of racism, thus deflecting an empathic, compassionate response and creating defences, such as rage and anger. In this case, support for healing the traumatic impact of racism may become lessened. I propose that, to Unlock a lifetime of colonisation, plundering and mental deforestation. ‘An appropriate gaze’ (addressed in my forthcoming book, 'A Black Empathic Approach to Psychotherapy- From Rage to Compassion) is necessary.
An appropriate gaze is a reflective process that accurately responds to and reflects the situation at hand. this means reflection and appropriate modelling in the relational process. An appropriate gaze positively reflects a connection with an individual’s true identity and ways of being.
Registration:
Workshop: The Challenge of Racism-‘A Black Empathic Approach’
I am proud to announce that February will also see the first Challenge of Racism’ A Black Empathic Approach to Psychotherapy’ workshop of 2025, being presented by experienced Master facilitators : Gloria Boadi and Dee Morrison. These Workshops have been running for 23 years in community groups, businesses and organisations.
Here is the link for booking https://www.baatn.org.uk/challenge-of-racism-in-therapeutic-practice-february-2025/#!event-register/2025/2/7/online-training-the-challenge-of-racism-in-therapeutic-practice
Master Facilitators workshop
We aim to present another Master facilitator workshop this year, in late June. These workshops are led by me, assisted by BPOC master graduates, who have previously completed a full ‘Challenge of Racism Workskshop’. So watch this space.
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