Event Summary

The Challenges of Racism Training Enquiry from UKAGP is an online course designed to help participants develop their understanding and skills in addressing the teaching and learning process of professionals, peers and students in race and power issues associated with oppression, internalised oppression, privilege and other forms of racism. Through this training you will gain the knowledge needed to create a safe emergency for meaningful dialogue around these complex topics. The course provides interactive activities, videos, readings and group discussion that allow participants to explore these issues in depth. Concepts such as 'Recognition Trauma' and 'A Black Empathic Approach' will be used to understand the impact of racism and internalised oppression. You will also have access to experienced facilitators who can answer any questions or provide additional support throughout the duration of the training.

This event is ideal for Gestalt Trainers and Workshop Leaders seeking to build their capacity for challenging racism within their organisations or communities. It offers a comprehensive approach that equips participants with practical strategies they can use when engaging with difficult conversations about race-related topics. Participants will leave feeling empowered by their new found knowledge which they can use to create positive change within their organisations or communities.

The training is aimed at Trainers and Workshop Leaders within the Gestalt Community. Places are limited to just 20 attendees ... book early to avoid disappointment.

When?

2nd and 3rd September 2023

Training Structure

This training will be split into four sessions over two days.
The training is done in small groups of 20 to create safety and support. For consistency and support participants should attend all four parts.

The training will offer participants:

• An opportunity to encompass critical race theory about racialised trauma, including a theoretical framework based on concepts such as ‘Recognition Trauma’ and a black empathic approach, presented in the books by Dr Isha Mckenzie-Mavinga. Book titles: Black Issues in the therapeutic Process (2009) and The Challenge of Racism in Therapeutic practice (2016).
• A space to develop awareness and skills in supporting the teaching and learning process of professionals, peers and students in race and power issues associated with oppression, internalised oppression, racialised trauma, white privilege, and white fragility.
• A theoretical and experiential framework on racial trauma and awareness and understanding of the impact of racism and the importance of creating a dialogue and space for self-care and support in this area.
• An emphasis on self-care balanced with mutual support and space to celebrate progress and share concerns about the impact of racism.
• A space to contemplate the dynamics of cultural diversity and intersectionality within the learning group.

Day 1 - Voicing the Unbearable: Denial, Silence, Fear, Rage

An exploration of the impact of racism on learning, personal development and the psyche: Addressing the personal, social and cultural impact.

Part One: 10AM Start - 1PM

Part Two: 2PM - 4.30PM

Day 2 - Identity, and internalised racism. Racism as trauma and intersecting oppression. Teaching, learning and practice.

Part Three: 10AM Start - 1PM

Part Four: 2PM - 4.30PM

Trainer/consultant bios:

Organiser.

Dr Isha Mckenzie-Mavinga Writer/Poet, Reiki master and Integrative, Transcultural Psychotherapist, Lecturer, trainer. Contributed to several Anthologies, Also published in The International Handbook of Black Community Mental Health, (2019) Intercultural Therapy (2019) What is Normal (2020). She has a presentation on the Confer online Module 'Women on the Couch’ 2020 and has shared her work on various podcasts and conferences videos. Workshops and talks on the challenge of Racism have been presented, at The Minster Centre, CCPE, Oxford University, Wimbledon College, Greenwhich MIND, Therapia, Place to Be, Centre for Rape Crisis & Sexual Abuse, IATE. BAATN and more. Recent: BME Voices Trauma conference 2020. 7th Relational Coaching Conference Ashridge 2022. HMP Warren. Education workshop 2023.  Isha has trained a group of masters to facilitate her Challenge of Racism workshops and carry on her legacy. 

Robert Sookhan is a UKCP Registered Psychotherapist/ BACP Accredited Counsellor.
His counselling training was in Person-Centred theory; his psychotherapy training was focused in Archetypal, Post-Jungian and Transpersonal perspectives. Robert has extensive experience offering staff counselling within the NHS and within Education (counselling in schools, FE & HE). As well as supervising other counsellors’ clinical work in a number of support services, Robert currently teaches on the Integrative Counselling Diploma at City Lit Institute. Robert is a member of the Leadership & Advisory team for BAATN (Black, Asian & African Network) for the past ten years. Since 2018, under the guidance of Dr Isha Mckenzie- Mavinga Robert has been providing workshops/training within organisations that support their staff in developing skills about making a space ‘safe enough’ for a dialogue about racism, and how, within the context of therapy, professionals can work with their clients in terms of race and power issues associated with oppression and internalised oppression.

 

FAQs

How do I become a member of UKAGP?

You can find more information and become a member of UKAGP at: https://ukagp.org.uk/become-a-member or by contacting admin@ukagp.org.uk.

For Joint UKAGP and EAGT Membership applications and queries please contact admin@ukagp.org.uk. 

I'm not a Gestalt Trainer or Workshop Leader but I'd still like to come, can I book this training?

With limited spaces we are prioritising trainers and workshop leaders at this time. If you have an interest in this course and are not currently a Trainer or Workshop Leader please contact events@ukagp.org.uk so we can capture your interest and let you know if we open up the attendee criteria, or if there is enough interest we could look at running a further event. Either way, please do share your interest with us.