In this issue
Here and now
Spotlight: Never just say no
Catherine Jackson interviews Natalie Bailey, our incoming Chair
Interview: We do not live in a vacuum
BACP President David Weaver invites departing Chair Andrew Reeves to share his thoughts on his time in office
Obituary
Tributes to Ann Beynon
In focus: Black spaces, black faces
Catherine Jackson discovers some of the ways Black people are creating therapeutic spaces
The big issues
Windrush: the aftershock
Amelia Gentleman speaks to families affected by the Windrush scandal.
Tell me what you assume
Kemi Omijeh finds rich material in the assumptions of clients and colleagues.
As much space as we can imagine (open article)
Foluke Taylor reflects on Black presence in counselling and psychotherapy.
Working with racial trauma in psychotherapy
Guilaine Kinouani proposes a framework for working with racial trauma.
In practice
Sally Brown explains why contracts matter.
Regulars
Turning point
Ebinehita Iyere draws wisdom from experience
It changed my life
Courtney Brown tells how counselling helped him reconnect with his identities and challenged past.
Dilemmas
Race in counselling contexts
Talking point
Where are you from?
Analyse me
Rotimi Akinsete speaks for himself
Members and subscribers can download the pdf of this issue from the Therapy Today archive.
Welcome
Last year in October, we welcomed you to the first-ever Black issue of Therapy Today, coinciding with Black History Month. We said at the time that it would not be a one-off and I am delighted to be welcoming you to this 2019 issue, which again has as its primary focus issues relating to Black African and African Caribbean therapy, race equality and social justice.
It comes at a critical time. Whatever your position on Brexit, the implications have undoubtedly increased sensitivities about race and race equality. Official statistics point to increasing hate crime directed towards people of colour and an increasing narrative that some people are more deserving than others in terms of their status as British citizens or their right to be here, mostly with reference to Black communities.
There is no doubt that intersectionality is important – inequality affects different sectors of society in different ways at different times. However, as I said in last year’s issue, the counselling professions have to view Black and race equality issues as integral and mainstream. Not to do so would be to totally ignore the significant needs of significant sections of our society.
I especially want to thank my fellow guest editors of this issue: BACP member Helen George, who conceived and lobbied for the idea of a Black History Month issue of Therapy Today, and Myira Khan, whose commitment as a BACP Board member has been pivotal. And thank you to Catherine Jackson, Therapy Today Editor, who made this all possible.
I hope you find this issue as enjoyable and meaningful as last year’s.
David Weaver, BACP President
It is with huge pleasure that I welcome you to the second special issue of Therapy Today, focusing on diversity of therapy provision and the developments behind it. As our President states in his welcome, the aim was never for the Black History Month Therapy Today, launched this time last year, to be a one-off.
We have worked hard at BACP to move the idea of social justice from a sound bite into a tangible, measurable and living aspect of everything we do. Diversity has long sat within our profession, from those who access our services through to those who provide those services; we need to both celebrate and reflect on our work in this area.
I hope you enjoy the range of content in this issue, including a farewell interview from me. It has been my absolute pleasure to serve you all as your Chair and I hope I leave the Association in a vibrant, active and responsive place.
Andrew Reeves, BACP Chair