We provide live, interactive events with a flexible “pay what you can” model, making knowledge accessible to all. Additionally, our ondemand learning library offers a wealth of resources available anytime, at your convenience.
We are happy to be hosting & supporting the conference online!
How to Attend the Conference LIVE Online
Register HERE to join the conference. You’ll receive an email with the Zoom link and reminders on the day of the event. Check your inbox (and spam/junk folder) for details!
This annual gathering offers a unique opportunity to connect and reflect in a space dedicated to the lived experiences of Black women therapists. The day includes rich opportunities for:
Tickets and Discounts
All tickets include access to the live event and recordings. Choose what you pay: £25.00 | £37.50 | £50.00
Workshops
You will be able to choose from seven live online workshops participate in our live conference debate.
Will I receive a CPD Certificate for attending the conference?
Yes, after the conference, you will be sent a link to the email you registered with so that you can download your CPD certificate to keep for your records
Why are the tickets different prices?
All ticket types provide exactly the same access to both the live event and the recording, but the price options allow attendees to choose the amount that feels right and manageable for them. It’s part of Onlinevents commitment to making learning accessible and inclusive.
Who can I contact if I need support attending the conference?
Mary is a psychotherapeutic counsellor, group facilitator and mentor in private practice, and host for BWTOC UK. Mary is also a tutor for the post-graduate diploma in person-centred counselling at The Norwich Centre, Norfolk, UK. She is registered with the British Association For Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and with the Black African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN, https://www.baatn.org.uk/).
Specialising in working with transcultural issues through a person-centred lens, her approach is relational, racial justice allied and social justice allied. Within her practice, Mary offers counselling for adults, mentoring for counselling trainees and, as a group facilitator, a tailored programme of online and in-person experiential workshops offering an enabling space, in which participants can explore the impact of race and culture on well- being within the current climate, the context of their work, training or supervision.
Website: https://www.marypascallcounselling.com/
Tonia is Co-Host for BWTOC UK. She works as Head of Therapeutic Services at MAP (https://www.map.uk.net/), a Youth Charity, based in Norfolk, UK. Tonia also delivers Form and Freedom Supervision training with colleague, Cat Burton (https://therapynorwich.com/).
Tonia qualified as a person-centred counsellor in 2007 and has devised, and delivered, anti-racist training since the mid-nineties. She is a member of the Black, African and Asian Therapy
Network (BAATN, https://www.baatn.org.uk/) and has participated in their mentoring programme since 2016. Her counselling practice is situated in the context of a lifelong active commitment to personal and community development, global justice, and equality. She is author of the chapter ‘Effective Anti-Racist Practice in Counselling and Therapy Training’ in 'Therapy in Colour: Intersectional, Anti-Racist and Intercultural Approaches by Therapists of Colour’ (2023, Jessica Kingsley Publishers). For BWTUK 24 one-day online conference, Tonia offered a radical workshop entitled Rest as Resistance: Rest Now! Accessible at: https://onlinevents.co.uk/courses/ (search 2024 Black Women Therapists Online Conference: ‘Challenging the Strong Black Woman Archetype’).
10:00AM – 10:30AM Music, Welcome & Introductions
10:30AM – 10:40AM Break and ‘Starter’ Session Selection Time
10:40AM – 11:25AM ‘Starter’ Session of 45 mins - Click to View
11:25AM – 11:35AM Break and ‘Main’ Session Selection Time
11:35AM – 1:05PM ‘Main’ Session of 90 mins
1:05PM – 2:05PM Lunch Break
2:05PM – 2:15PM Return to Main Room and ‘Sweet’ Session Selection Time
2:15PM – 3:00PM ‘Sweet’ Session of 45 mins
3:00PM – 3:05PM Break
3:05PM – 3:45PM ‘Sharing Board’ and Closing Comments
0PM Contacts, Resources and Goodbyes
STREAM 1
STREAM 2
Natalie Morrison - Representation: Losses & Gains for Black Women & Girls in the UK
Joy Langley - Survivors or Thrivers? Success & the Black Woman Therapist
11:35AM – 1:05PM - ‘Main’ Session – Choose One
STREAM 1
STREAM 2
Gloria Boadi - The Skin We’re In: A Mindful Approach to Health, Beauty and Environment
Rita Edah - Saying 'No' as an Act of Self-Care: How to Maintain Boundaries with Compassion and Grace
STREAM 3
Rayann Bryan - Embodied Legacies: Reconnecting Black Caribbean Women with Ancestral Wisdom
2:15PM – 3:00PM - ‘Sweet’ Session – Choose One
STREAM 1
STREAM 2
Ngozi Cadmus - Shape Your Success: From Placement to Practice
Matthew Johnston - Bridging the Gap: Why Some Black Women Choose a Black Man Therapist
Your Presenters & Workshops
Representation Losses & Gains for Black Women
& Girls in the UK
Hello everyone, I’m Natalie, I really enjoyed BWTOVuk24, so I’m returning this year with a provocative 45-minute workshop, set to challenge your thinking around the representation of Black women and girls within music therapy.
Drawing on examples from the media and politics, I will explore notions of ‘healthy’ and ‘misaligned’ representation, and will pose the question: ‘Is representation enough to erase racism, institutional racism and everyday racism?’ I look forward to being with you in the space.
What to expect:
An introduction to music therapy practice and training in the UK.
An exploration of the representation of Black women and girls within music therapy and training in the UK.
Music samples.
Media references.
Group discussion.
By the end of this workshop, you will have:
An understanding of key issues within music therapy practice and training in the UK.
An awareness of the need for ‘healthy representation’ of Black women and girls in the UK.
An understanding of the impact of ‘misaligned representation’ of Black women and girls in the UK.
RETURN TO SCHEDULE
Hello, I’m Joy. I’m returning to BWTOCuk this year with a renewed message: for too long, Black women therapists have struggled with owning their full power – as healers, businesswomen and industry leaders. We downplay our achievements, shrink our success with phrases like, ‘I’m just working’ or ‘I only have a few clients’, and we shy away from the title of CEO. Well, Black Women Therapists, it’s time for us to claim our iconic status, as Black Businesswomen.
For BWTOCuk25, I’m offering you a 45- minute session that promises to challenge the traditional self-care narrative. I like to say that: self-care isn’t just about bubble baths and yoga. It’s about radical self-ownership; standing in your full authority as a therapist and a businesswoman; merging your professional identity with your personal power, without guilt, hesitation or self-doubt.’ My session will shake you up, challenge your thinking, and push you into a new era of confidence and power. Because you are not ‘just’ a therapist – you are a Black Therapist Businesswoman. If you’re ready to realise this – come join me!
The Skin We’re In A Mindful Approach to Health, Beauty and Environment
What to expect:
Stats on health, stress, trauma and our environment.
Health quiz.
Body mapping exercise.
Group discussion.
Mindful breath work.
A collective oath to honour our bodies.
RETURN TO SCHEDULE
Through discussion and activities, we will:
Discover how work, stress, trauma and finance influence health outcomes.
Reflect on differing perceptions of our bodies.
Learn the importance of prioritising our health and well-being.
By the end of this workshop, you will have:
A greater appreciation for our bodies.
Increased knowledge of disparities affecting our health.
Mindful tools for prioritising our health and well-being.
This session will be recorded: presenter only.
Gloria is a Psychotherapist, Counsellor, and Supervisor with over 13 years' experience supporting individuals, couples, and groups. She holds an MA in Counselling from Goldsmiths College, London, and is a qualified Systemic Practitioner from The Prudence Skinner Clinic, St. George’s Hospital. She is an accredited member of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling Society (NCS). She is also a member of the British Psychological Society (BPS), the Black, African and AsianTherapy Network (BAATN), and the Psychotherapy and Counselling Union (PCU).
Gloria’s expertise include workplace stress, anxiety, complex cases, and transcultural issues. She has worked in schools, prisons, GP surgeries, and with EAPs. She is certified to support individuals with sight loss, working with RNIB to promote inclusivity. She is also a master facilitator trained by Dr. Isha McKenzie-Mavinga in a ‘Black Empathetic approach to therapy and the challenge of racism’. Gloria currently runs a private practice in Greenwich, London.
Saying 'No' as an Act of Self-Care How to Maintain Boundaries with Compassion and Grace
Hello everyone, I’m Rita. I’m so glad to be joining you for this year’s BWTOCuk. With this 90-minute seminar, I’d like to offer you the opportunity to explore the impact of over-extension within our professional and personal lives, including the impact on our mental health and emotional well-being. I also intend to champion the setting of boundaries for self-respect and self-care, and how to do this with a generous serving of compassion and grace.
Join me to discover.
What to expect:
An outline of factors leading to over-extension for Black women in the UK. An exploration of the impact of over-extension on our health and well-being. Guidance on setting boundaries for self-care and self-respect. Discussion and small-group work.
Reconnecting Black Caribbean Women with Ancestral Wisdom
Hello to all. I’m Rayann, pleased to be returning for BWTUK25. I’m inviting you to consider the intergenerational wisdom and resilience of Black Caribbean women of the Windrush era. We’ll do this through storytelling, reflection and shared insights, utilising approaches that are rooted in cultural heritage whilst addressing contemporary self-care needs.
What you can gain from this session: You will leave with a deeper understanding of how ancestral resilience shapes our well-being. Practical insights and reflective approaches will be shared, so that you can learn to honour your body, through a culturallyrooted approach to self-care. This 90-minute session will be recorded.
Rayann is Founder and CEO of the Thelma Matilda Alves Foundation, a UK mental health charity providing a vital platform for the support and empowerment of Black women in the UK.
Another key area of focus for Rayann is as a PhD student investigating the experiences of Black Caribbean mothers and daughters who migrated to the UK during the Windrush era (1950s to 1960s). For BWTYK24 Rayann introduced the work of the Thelma Matilda Alves Foundation and offered practical insights into establishing and supporting similar initiatives.
Hi, I’m Ngozi, and I’d like you to consider the following: as Black women in the UK, working in therapy and other related helping professions, we navigate training systems that often prioritise Eurocentric perspectives. During this process, our cultural and professional identities may be devalued and dismissed. Many of us experience discrimination during training, supervision and placements. We may be advised to ‘tone down’ our styles of communication or to reconsider our areas of expertise and research.
These racialized experiences have profound effects on our confidence, career progression, and sustaining private practice. I’d like to invite you to unpack the systemic barriers you face during training. In our session, I’ll introduce clear strategies for reclaiming agency, decolonizing your therapeutic practice, and building a thriving career in the helping professions. See you there.
What to expect:
An outline of factors leading to over-extension for Black women in the UK and the impact on our health and well-being.
Guidance on setting boundaries for self-care and self-respect during training and placement.
Discussion and small-group work.
By the end of this workshop, you will have:
An understanding of racialized training experiences and how systemic bias and racial microaggressions can shape Black female therapists’ professional journey.
Practical strategies to integrate culturally aligned therapeutic approaches, whilst navigating Eurocentric training models.
Tools to empower your transition from training to a financially viable, fulfilling practice.
This 45-minute session will be recorded.
Ngozi is a Transactional Analyst psychotherapist and social worker. She focuses on helping Black women heal from workplace abuse and racial trauma. She is the CEO of the anti-racist workplace mental health platform Happiworkers and the Founder of The Black Woman's Rest Revolution, which aims to transform our approaches to anti-racist practice and mental health. Ngozi champions rest as radical resistance against systemic oppression.
She channels her expertise into creating culturally sensitive workplaces and holding leadership accountable, empowering Black women to prioritise rest as essential to their liberation and renewal. Ngozi is currently completing her doctoral research at the Tavistock on Black women's leadership strategies.
You can find her TEDx talk: The Shocking Reality of Black Women in Leadership | Ngozi Cadmus | TEDxKingsCollegeLondon Websites: https://happiworkers.health/ https://theblackwomansrestrevolution.com/
Bridging the Gap Why Some Black Women Choose
a Black Man Therapist
Ever wondered why some Black women choose a Black man therapist? Perhaps this is you. Well, then, have you considered what prompted you to make this choice?
Hi, I’m Matthew and in this 45-minute session for BWTOCuk25 I want to share the reasons why Black women seek support from me, as a Black man therapist. I’ll be opening a window onto my therapeutic practice and personal experiences, inviting you to consider the relationships between Black women and Black men therapists.
Together, we’ll explore the various ways in which Black women seek opportunity for healing, support, and empowerment within the therapeutic space, reflecting on the cultural, emotional, and societal dynamics that shape these connections. Do join me. RETURN
