Transforming Race Conversations Online Conference

TRANSFORMING RACE CONVERSATIONS

Saturday 15th June 2024

Saturday 15th June 2024

PROGRAMME

One of the primary aims of BAATN is to address the inequality of access to appropriate psychological services for Black, African, South Asian and Caribbean people, which is a well-recognised reality. Part of the solution to addressing this inequality of access is through the provision of events and training for our members, the entire therapy community and the wider public

Our overall goal is the individual and collective processing of our inner experiences for the benefit of ours and other communities and to give a voice to a ‘black empathic approach’ in therapy and therapy education. As a body, we seek to influence the integration of this approach into mainstream psychotherapy training, literature and practice. We also encourage other organisations to work with us and support our work.

Our Directory of Practitioners.

Our directory is open to psychological therapists who are experienced in working with the distinctive African, Caribbean and South Asian experience.

Our Events

BAATN offers Practitioner Spaces, which are healing and learning spaces for therapists and others in the helping professions. There are Practitioner Spaces specifically for those of Black, African, South Asian Caribbean and People of Colour heritages as well as events for therapists of all heritages. BAATN also offers healing and learning spaces for members of the public who want to benefit from the knowledge and expertise of the network and who want to engage proactively and consciously in their psychological lives.

Not for Profit

BAATN is a Social Enterprise, which means that all profits are reinvested. BAATN is run mostly by volunteers and survives through membership fees, donations and crowdfunding.

PCCS

PROGRAMME TRANSFORMING RACE CONVERSATIONS

TRANSFORMINGRACECONVERSATIONS

Conference Programme

9.00 - 9.30 am Welcome/Conference Opening

9.30 - 10.30am Panel Discussion - Sarah Henry & John Wilson

10.30 - 11.00am Break

11.00 - 12.30pm Morning Workshops

12.30 - 1.30pm Break

1.30 - 3.00pm Afternoon Workshops

3.00 - 3.30pm Break

3.30 - 4.30pm KEYNOTE Eugene Ellis Transforming Race Conversations: Racial Identity & Social Justice Beyond Words

4.30 - 5.00pm Closing/Discussion Forum

15th June 2024

WORKSHOPSTREAMS

Click/tap the presenter name for more information

MORNING WORKSHOPS - 11.00 - 12.30pm

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Dr Delroy Hall Transforming Race Conversations: Where do we begin? (Work in progress)

Kiren Khosla and Gary Baron Reclaiming Our Essence Through The Shadow Of The Patriarchy

Dr Lucia Berdondini & Dr Nomsa Wayland Intercultural counselling training in action: practicing cultural humility

Sarah Henry Let's Talk About Race!

AFTERNOON WORKSHOPS - 1.30pm - 3.00pm

Ranjith Devakumar My 'Unknown' Intergenerational Trauma

STREAM 1

STREAM 2

Mark Williams - The Interplay of Race and Anxiety in Interpersonal Relationships

Moriam Grillo Naming The Elephant: Talking Race, Decoloniality and the Dominant Culture Politic (not recorded)

Transforming Race Conversations: KEYNOTE

Racial Identity & Social

Justice Beyond Words

Eugene Ellis

The brutality of historical racism and its legacy on victims and witnesses is centuries old. It carries with it unresolved trauma that has been passed on from one generation to the next. This generational transmission of racial trauma within racialised and non-racialised families needs far more attention than it receives and holds an important key for both understanding the challenge of having conversations about race and transforming them. This talk will explore racial and social justice as embodied experience and explore the need to understand and attend to our embodied experience before the work of undoing injustice can begin.

Eugene Ellis is a psychotherapist, writer and public speaker. He has a particular interest in body-orientated practice and facilitating the healing of trauma. For the past 20 years, he has been the director and founder of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network, the UK's largest independent organisation to specialise in working therapeutically with Black, African, Caribbean and Asian people.

Eugene's book, 'Transforming Race Conversations: A Healing Guide For Us All (2024), previously published as "The Race Conversation" (2021), delves into the story of race, exploring its historical and social construction, the language of race, the impact of race trauma on the body, and how intergenerational race trauma continues to impact us today. The aim of the book is to take the reader beyond the familiar places of the race construct to reclaim our sanity, encourage open-mindedness and curiosity and strive for positivity and personal growth.

Eugene is a Buddhist within the Triratna Buddhist Community

TRANSFORMING RACE CONVERSATIONS

Workshop Speakers

Where do we begin? WORKSHOP

Dr Delroy Hall

'This workshop will be practically based examining how we can begin to start our conversations about race. A model will be suggested how we can begin this process

Dr Delroy Hall, Counsellor, and Trainer

With over three decades of experience, Delroy Hall is a trained counsellor, well-being practitioner, community leader, independent scholar and trainer

He has given lectures and academic papers nationally and internationally. Delroy has coordinated mental health projects and is currently working with Birmingham Community Health Care Trust (BCHC) facilitating the Inclusive Leadership component on their ‘Inspire Leadership Programme. He is also coordinator for a Black Male Suicide Prevention programme.

Since April 2020, Delroy has hosted live well-being sessions on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube. These teaching sessions cover a broad range of human issues.

As a former four hundred metre hurdler, ranked No 2 in Great Britain in 1979 in the under 20 age group, Delroy keeps fit and is presently training for various aqua bike events in the UK

Reclaiming Our Essence Through The Shadow

Patriarchy WORKSHOP

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Kiren Khosla & Gary Baron

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ThroughouttheworkshopwewillexploreRacismandOppressionwithinthe System,NeurodiversityandTrauma,Supervisionandit'sChallengesthrougha TranspersonalPerspective,andReligionandSpirituality.

Bytheendoftheworkshopwehopethatparticipantswillfeelableto:

Explorewhatisyourtraumaandhowdoesthatrelatetoyourself?

Understandthewoundedchildwithin,thepatternsofrelatingandit'simpacton theparticipantsphysical,mentalandspiritualhealthandrelationships.

Exploretheparticipantsownexperientialjourney,toreclaimtheirspiritualpower energetically.

Lookatwhereparticipantsblocksmaybe,tofindasenseofmeaningand purpose.

Wewillbeusingamixtureofbreakoutroomsandexercisestoenablefree expressionforalleveryone.Pleasebringpensandpaperifyouwouldliketobe creative.

Kiren Khosla is an Accredited, Person Centred, Private Practice Counsellor, Coach and Supervisor, who created Activites2heal, as a way to support a range of clients and students from White, Black, Brown and Mixed Race and Heritage backgrounds

Gary Baron is a UKCP registered Child Adolescent, Psychotherapist, and Counsellor with more than 16 years experience of working with children, adolescents, adults, couples, and families individually and in group settings

Before setting up a private practice, he worked as Lead Facilitator, Project Manager, Education and Youth Development Officer for Teens and Toddlers, and a keyworker and therapist for Kids Company. He was responsible for setting up a youth organisation to support the emotional wellbeing of young adults and to help them gain work experience at Buckingham Palace and elsewhere.

Gary Baron holds an MA in Child, Adolescent & Family Therapy, Diploma in Sandplay Studies, and a PG.Dip in Psychosynthesis Counselling. He is an Advanced Level 3 EFT practitioner and a Reiki Master and is currently enrolled on a Diploma course in child, adolescent and adult psychotherapy supervision, at Terapia

Intercultural Counselling Training in Action: WORKSHOP

Practicing Cultural Humility

Dr Nomsa Wayland & Dr Lucia Berdondini

During this workshop we will discuss our experience of running an online intercultural counselling skills course with international students We will reflect on how we try to offer a safe space where counselling skills practice becomes an opportunity to engage with authenticity and humble explorations of ourselves with regards to diversity, race and cultural identity. During the workshops there will be opportunities to take part in experiential activities, debates, and reflective practice.

Dr Nomsa Wayland is a Professional Doctorate Counselling Psychology Trainee, qualified Integrative therapist, and part-time lecturer at the University of East London (UEL). She contributes her knowledge to the foundation Counselling Skills and the Intercultural Counselling Practice and Processes modules within the Humanitarian Intervention programme She is passionate about addressing race and racism in therapy

Nomsa has delivered lectures on race and culture while working to create a more inclusive therapeutic environment, demonstrating her commitment to fostering meaningful conversations and promoting positive change.

Her current research project, "Understanding Counselling Professionals' Experiences of Working with Black Clients Presenting with Race-Based Traumatic Stress," aims to contribute to a larger conversation about equality, diversity, and inclusion within the counselling

psychology field and to improve education and the counselling process for minority clients. Nomsa's research and dedication make her an asset to UEL and the counselling psychology field, as she advocates for cultural competence and social justice.

Her current research project, "Understanding Counselling Professionals' Experiences of Working with Black Clients Presenting with Race-Based Traumatic Stress," aims to contribute to a larger conversation about equality, diversity, and inclusion within the counselling psychology field and to improve education and the counselling process for minority clients Nomsa's research and dedication make her an asset to UEL and the counselling psychology field, as she advocates for cultural competence and social justice.

Dr Lucia Berdondini is currently Associate Professor and Course Leader of the Distance Learning MSc Humanitarian Intervention at the School of Psychology, University of East London. At UEL she is also teaching on the BSc (Hons) Counselling.

Lucia is a BACP Accredited Gestalt Psychotherapist since 2003 and she has been working with a variety of clients, individuals, couples and groups, adolescents and adults. Her areas of interest are psychosocial intervention in countries in war and conflict; existential therapies; intercultural counselling training She has been involved in co-creating psychosocial interventions in countries like Afghanistan, Angola, India and Syria.

Let's Talk About Race! WORKSHOP

Sarah Henry

Participants are invited to step into collaborative conversations about race and racial identities with each other. Yes - we're going to actually do the doing! With honesty and openness (and a healthy dash of humour!) Sarah Henry will facilitate an environment of equality and accessibility for everyone to invest in respectful conversations about what 'race' means and how it shapes everyday experiences. Come prepared to be pleasantly surprised and personally enriched as we collaborate - rather than conflict - in conversations about race.

Sarah Henry is a published author in the 2023 book ‘People Not Pathology: Freeing Therapy from the Medical Model’, contributing a chapter on the importance of understanding race and culture within the mental health field. She is also a Person-Centred counsellor and counselling tutor based in Nottingham Working as ‘The Race Trainer’, Sarah has presented nationally about the impact that race and racial identity have on conversations, both within and outside the counselling relationship. Her passion for dispelling fear and facilitating conversations about race, racial identity and culture shape her collaborative approach to this work.

As a Black woman Born and raised in England, Sarah’s experiences of her Jamaican subculture exist within a larger English culture. These experiences are an ongoing dynamic of complementary and clashing norms. Elements of this disparity continue into adulthood and inform the curiosity that drives her work

My 'Unknown' Intergenerational

Trauma WORKSHOP

Ranjith Devakumar

'The workshop will involve the exploration of my families personal experiences during the Sri Lankan Civil War, which led them to migrate to Europe, and finally settle in the United Kingdom in the late 1980s. I'll follow this up by focusing on, what their experience was like in East London with starting their new life facing the challenges of racism. From observing my mother, I realised that from the 'fight, flight or freeze' model she adopted the freeze model when she experienced racism in the UK which was a direct consequence of some of how she responded to some of the experiences during the Sri Lankan civil war. I will focus on the importance of self-exploration in therapy, and revisit some of my own personal memories that I experienced through intergenerational trauma.'

Hello, I’m Ranjith, I’m a British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) registered member and member of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN). I qualified as an integrative counsellor in 2023 and started my private practice in January 2024 which is based in London, UK.

Within my practice, I offer counselling to young adults (18 - 25) and adults through either online counselling and outdoor counselling I was born and raised in London, and my ethnic origin is Sri Lankan Tamil. Both cultures have shaped me to be the person I am today but it has been a long journey identifying who I am whilst working through the intergenerational trauma of my family and the racial trauma I’ve experienced from a young age

I’m excited to have the opportunity to be part of this conference alongside the other speakers I will be sharing my experience with you, in a 45 minute session, exploring “My ‘Unknown’ Intergenerational Trauma” based on my families personal experience during the Sri Lankan Civil War which led them to start a new life in the UK.

The Interplay of Race and Anxiety in Interpersonal Relationships WORKSHOP

Mark Williams

This workshop invites us to examine the pervasive nature of micro-aggressions that are communicated in the interpersonal transactions between individuals and groups of people when racial difference is a factor. The workshop will offer a brief presentation that will form the premise for a greater discussion about the emotions and thinking that come into play when we talk about race. The basic skills that form the foundations of communication become altered in interracial interactions and the challenges and barriers we face to attend to the effects of racial injustice and racism persist with seemingly little change to the experiences of people of colour.

We ask ourselves the question of how we move forward past the fear, the anger, the denial and the silence? How do we become better able to engage in race conversations in therapy, in the work place, or in general?

Mark Williams is a British African Caribbean man He is a qualified Social Worker and Senior Lecturer at Leeds Beckett University. As an academic, Mark has extensive experience in social work education and practice placement support, which has led to a development of practice knowledge that considers the concerns in the experience of Black and Global Majority communities in social work education and practice n social work practice, Mark has a number of years specialising in community mental health provisions with a particular focus on

intervention and supports for BGM groups. His research and development interests have centred on the racialised experiences of BGM individuals within Higher Education and in professional fields in health and social care, which has extended beyond social work to the psychotherapy and counselling professions.

Mark has been researcher on the topic of race and education and has delivered training to work forces on anti-racist practice, and allyship, inclusion and diversity Mark has also published on the subject and currently undertaking his doctorate studies on the topic of the impact of racial trauma on the educational outcomes for individuals of BGM backgrounds

Grillo Naming The Elephant: WORKSHOP

(Not Recorded)

Talking Race, Decoloniality & the Dominant Culture Politic

Moriam

While referring to her chapter, ‘Sitting With Discomfort or Embodying Joy?’ The workshop will explore how the social construct of race impacts Black, Brown and White bodies. And explore the question: what we can do to recover equality in the face of hierarchical oppressions? Participants will be invited to explore the theme experientially. The workshop will include artmaking and discussion.

Moriam Grillo is an Analytical Art Psychotherapist, Clinical Supervisor, Lecturer and AntiRacism Trainer. She holds multiple degrees and is a registered member of BAAT, BAATN and HCPC Her therapeutic journey began as an artist and community practitioner and it was in sharing space with local communities that she became aware of the complexity and depth of the creative process as a means to explore personal themes and articulate feelings when words are not forthcoming

Alongside private practice and community-based engagement, her work also entails supporting people of the global majority working in white-led organisations.

Moriam is interested in racism as phenomena and the notions of elevation and degradation that become apparent when exploring the experiences of living in Black, Brown, and White bodies.