UKCP (and all the psychological professions) need to do more to reflect the communities we serve. We are taking practical steps towards improving our UKCP operations via an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce. Here you can read more about this work, along with our statement on racial injustice, material looking at how the therapeutic community might respond to the overdue call to address structural societal inequalities, and reflections from UKCP members.
June 2020
UK Council for Psychotherapy stands in solidarity with the protests against racial injustice taking place across the globe. We acknowledge the pain of Black and other minority ethnic members and staff colleagues as well as clients and service users. The psychological impact of dehumanising injustice and the festering wound of centuries-long racism cannot be overstated.
BAME therapists and trainees have been continuing in their work to support others in emotional and mental distress while carrying their own pain from their own lived experience of racism. Supervisors, educators and trainers may be struggling to find the ways and means to support their students and supervisees. Our BAME students are contemplating the challenges they face to enter and sustain their training, as well as the uncertain future ahead.
We acknowledge the harm that BAME members of our UKCP community have endured not only today but in the past. We will strive continuously to create as safe and inclusive environment as we can for all. We are watching and listening and we are committed to fighting against racism and discrimination wherever and however it exists.
Racism erodes the fabric of society. We want our platform and resources to play a role in the fight to overcome these deep-seated systemic challenges and build a better world for all. We will amplify our campaign to highlight racial disparities in experience of mental health services and mental health outcomes. That includes emphasising how black men showing signs of mental distress are far more likely to be criminalised – as reflected in the massive racial disparities in the police’s use of the Mental Health Act (sectioning).
UKCP (and all the psychological professions) need to do more to reflect the communities we serve. We are part of a coalition with that very aim alongside Place2Be, ACC, BACP, BAATN, BPC, NCS and MCAPN.
We will campaign vigorously for funding for training, and seek ways to break down barriers to accessing and completing our trainings to ensure BAME therapists are entering the profession in greater numbers. Regardless of background, we must ensure all therapists have the cultural competence to meet clients and service users where they are, and we have called on the government to provide support in delivering the training necessary to achieve this.
UKCP has a zero-tolerance policy toward racism and you can read here the procedures and policies we have in place to report, review, and act. We will reflect on how our organisation can be more welcoming to and inclusive of BAME people be they staff, members, or clients and service users.
In spring 2020, we took steps to create an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) Taskforce led by Elizabeth Oni-Iyiola of Inclusive Boards, which will put together and EDI-BIIDE action plan for UKCP.
In 2023, UKCP conducted the first of what will be an annual data collection of essential metrics from members. Demographic information was collected from members as part of the renewals process, and an optional survey about their work and practice was also circulated to members. Using the statistics collected we compiled a report with the findings. In this report we also compared our statistics with NHS and UK-wide data to put the figures in context. We will continue to collect this data annually to better understand what our membership looks like and how best to support them. We also want to track how our measures to improve the diversity of our membership change the demographic statistics of our membership over time.
In this issue, we explore how a more diverse profession will help increase access to psychotherapy for minority communities. We ask how we can ensure that psychotherapy training is as diverse as the people the profession supports. And we look at the work of our Equality Diversity and Inclusion Taskforce.
Psychosynthesis psychotherapist Nila Yasmin discusses the challenges faced by ethnic minority groups in accessing psychotherapy and mental health services.
Integrative arts therapist Roshmi Lovatt reflects on her experience as a supervisor to outline the need for diversity in the supervisory relationship.
Psychosynthesis psychotherapist Humera Quddoos explores her reaction to our call for contributions to the New Psychotherapist and the importance of claiming her voice on her own terms.
Integrative psychotherapist Daljinder Bal explains why she believes therapy needs to be more affordable and de-stigmatised.
Integrative psychotherapist Indi Kaur discusses the need for more culture and trauma-informed services to help people of colour feel understood.
Ongoing global events are shining a light on the oppression that still exists in today's society. In this episode our CEO Sarah Niblock talks to UKCP psychotherapist Eugene Ellis to find out how oppression impacts our psychological wellbeing.
When we experience discrimination, people see us as one thing and we end up becoming defined by our gender, race or sexuality.
Professor Divine Charurua responds to societal responses to the death of George Floyd and the UKCP statement on racial injustice.
Anthea Benjamin calls on the therapy community to take action against racism.
Mamood Ahmad shares prompts for self-reflection and advice for therapists on respectfully participating in conversations about race and racism
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