Challenging whiteness in therapy

A workshop for therapists who want to start recognising and challenging whiteness and its harms from a relational and embodied perspective.

2h

This reflective workshop follows the webinar on ‘Whiteness in Therapy’ and provides an opportunity to dive deeper into the topic. Building on the invitations issued during the webinar, we will gather as a small group to reflect on how whiteness may impact our work.

The space will be used to gently challenge ourselves to explore how we experience the whiteness and coloniality of therapeutic practice, how we might be invited to assimilate in order to be deemed ‘fit to practice’ and how we want to start dismantling it in our work. With particular attention to the relational and embodied aspects of our identity as therapists, we will also start exploring embodied ways to stay committed to anti-oppressive alternatives.

After a brief check-in, the facilitated discussion will cover the following topics:

• Embodied experiences of whiteness
• Relational experiences of whiteness in the therapy room
• Moves towards innocence and defensiveness – working with our need to be ‘good’
• Vulnerability and challenging the inner white therapist
• Learning to ground ourselves in alternative ways of being and practicing

Some reflective prompts will be provided to start the discussions, but the space will remain open to what participants bring and to how the discussion unfolds.

Participants are encouraged to watch the webinar recording if they haven’t attended the event on the 7th of September, although this is not a prerequisite to attend this workshop.

The session will last 2 hours with a short break in the middle.

This workshop is aimed at mental health professionals, helpers and everyone interested in the links between social inequalities, power and mental health.

(This is a live event that will be most beneficial for participants who engage with the material and discussions. It will not be recorded, and a certificate of attendance will be provided.)

About the facilitator/speaker:

Lucia Sarmiento Verano is a humanistic psychotherapist in private practice online. With a background in Sociology and Political Science, she has worked as an anti-racism trainer and consultant with mental health organisations. She has experience delivering training and facilitating reflective discussions around topics of anti-racism and decolonial thinking in mental health. Lucia is now undertaking research on the topics of coloniality and resistance as a Ph.D. student at the Birkbeck University of London.

Ticketing options:

Different prices have been offered to cater to varying financial situations. Please choose the ticket that corresponds to your current circumstances.

No one will be turned down due to financial reasons. A small number of tickets have been reserved for trainees, people in financial hardship, or people living and working in the Global South. Please contact me directly using the link in my profile (you can also find it below) to let me know you need access to these tickets and I will be happy to arrange it.

What people have said about Lucia’s training events:

” I would recommend, it is an accessible way to gain valuable insight on topics that are essential for counsellors (but sadly not included within most training)” (Addam)

” I found it very interesting as well as thought provoking, It feels like Lucia put a lot of thought and consideration in her work. I did not feel ailenated in this workshop which has been my experience in some workshops/presentation. “

” I would highly recommend. Lucia’s presentation was paced perfectly, she was easy to listen to and understand and therefore I felt engaged and learnt some new things without feeling overwhelmed.” (Julie)

” Appreciation for the sensitivity brought to social/cultural/historical power in the real world and how this is present in clinical interactions.” (Kartika)

” A well thought out, engaging event from someone with clear knowledge and sensitivity.”