Nearing the closure of 2025

2025 has been a very challenging year. Many good things happened. I completed my book’ a Black Empathic Approach to Psychotherapy’ with an appropriate subtitle ‘Growing from rage to Compassion’.

I have become more aware of how my rage functions to jeopardise my self care and therefore I have been more cautious of my abandonment issues, and turning around the pattern of rejection due to my mistrust and fear of abandonment.

I have become more aware of kindness towards me and also negative elements that do not belong to me. Somehow I attracted gaslighting and people I assumed we're friends, doing things towards me that were unfriendly, uncaring and that I did not deserve. I guess success can also attract envy and other people’s projections.

The online book launch was a wonderful solution to my inability to create an in person event. The encouragement I received from colleagues, peers and those who have honoured and supported my development was phenomenal.

I openly recognised my inhibitions about exposure on a personal level and economic restrictions that got in the way of organising support and help that was needed to make this and in person event.

My lifelong, debilitating pattern of being a strong woman, which involved not asking for help, was challenged. With encouragement, I could see that help was available if I plucked up the courage to ask.

Eugene Ellis, director of BAATN agreed to support me with an online book launch. Anita Mckenzie agreed to open the book launch with a libation. Honouring the ancestors and opening the launch with this moving and affirming ancient African ritual, gave me a blessing that meant much more then I could imagine. Although 200 people had registered, I am proud to say that 95+ attended. My daughter and my sister were present and this was the first time close family were involved with my book launches.

Another significant event was Being invited to go to Ghana with the Protect Black women tour. I was excited and prepared to leave the UK again, only 10 days after returning from Tobago in May. I had no resources to buy my flight ticket, and I feel blessed that I was offered sponsorship. Unfortunately when I arrived back in the UK, I discovered one of my sons was critically ill and in a coma. I had to cancel my trip to Ghana which was very disappointing. The next six months were spent travelling six hours, a few times each week to visit my son in hospital and then afterwards in his home. He is now severely disabled and needs care and nursing every day. During the time that I was in the UK, I presented some poetry readings in Folkestone. This gave me opportunities to meet with other creatives and consider returning to my wish to develop a collection of poetry.

I feel blessed that I was able to present another master graduate training in July. This has meant that we now have 14 facilitators willing to take on the challenge of racism work in workshops and training groups. This work continues, but it is slow due to lack of marketing. I am still hopeful that we can push in new directions for more of this work that promotes my research and writing in ways that carry forward and influence in psychotherapy, counselling, coaching and the caring sectors, in 2026. Lydia Puricelli has been very helpful in supporting efforts to challenge inhibitions and difficulties in marketing.

In the meantime, I am continuing to do myself care in Tobago, I am refocusing my creative energies and preparing for a series of discussions based on chapters in my new book. The first one is scheduled on January 12th 2026

Microsoft Teams Event 1.5 hrs

This event will be a monthly opportunity to discuss my work and recently published book: 'A Black Empathic Approach to Psychotherapy' - 'Growing from Rage to Compassion'. During each meeting, we will explore a chapter from the book. Session 1 will be on Monday 12th January 2026, online. Time 7 - 8.30PM. Chapter 1: Breaking Through Colour Blindness.

You can connect with others interested in working relationally to address the impact of Anti-black racism, share what you'd like to learn more about, and ask questions that support your CPD and satisfy your curiosity. This platform is for individuals training and working in helping professions. To join, you must be reading the book. Contact writeandheal@btinternet.com www.ishmm.com Click the link for registration: https://www.ishamm.com/events-1/an-audience-with-dr-isha