Justice In Therapy
Sat 30 Nov 2024 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
The Advocacy Academy, SW9 7QR
Description
Welcome to Justice In Therapy, our day of dreaming and doing to bring about the systemic change we're desperately longing for within our profession. As therapists and trainees who advocate for mental health on a daily basis, we are no longer willing to tolerate the adverse effects of white supremacy on our own mental health. We are living and working under the persistent harm of institutions and membership bodies that refuse to take meaningful action for social change and we continue to be taught a colonial, oppressive curriculum that harms how we practise as well as our outlook on the world. Many of us have tried to educate our peers, tutors and supervisors, but we continue to be ignored and the toll of the unpaid labour we're expected to do is exhausting. We demand justice for ourselves, for our racialised peers and for those we support.
About Justice In Therapy
Justice In Therapy is a day-long community conference that is based on the principle that together we go further. We're going to disrupt colonial frameworks of isolation and competition by taking up space and sharing resources, with the leadership of those who are most marginalised. We are also going to reimagine the traditional, Western conference model that relies on a select few (predominantly white) experts who are called on to impart their knowledge. We believe that, as justice work affects us all, we all need to be part of the conversation, so we have chosen an unconference model for the day, where those in the room will dictate what is explored and how. We will also offer some reflection points for those who would like to start organising their thoughts in advance of attending the day.
Host
Justice In Therapy is hosted by Black Psychotherapy, a mental health service providing anti-oppressive, decolonial and intersectional therapy to racialised communities, alongside liberation-centred training, supervision and education to professionals across the health and social care sector. Black Psychotherapy operates a low-cost clinic to widen access to therapy and partners with community groups and organisations to end mental health stigma and address cultural barriers to seeking support. The team’s dedication to delivering excellent standards of care led to being nominated as Best Mental Health Service of The Year in 2024. For the latest news, updates and decolonial conversations you can find us on Instagram.
Venue
We are delighted to host Justice In Therapy at The Liberation Centre in Brixton, the home of grassroots organising in the UK and headquarters of The Advocacy Academy. The team’s work builds the collective power of young people to bring about social justice through training those with lived experience of injustice to achieve long-term systemic change for themselves and the communities they live in. The Advocacy Academy combines formal instruction in social and economic systems, practical training in community organising, with the heart and soul of radical youth work, equipping young people with the knowledge, skills and confidence to become active agents for change in the community.
Accessibility
Our venue is located 6 minutes walk from Brixton station. Our space is on the first floor with lift access and from street level the building is accessible with ramps, wide doors and accessible toilets. There is also and a quiet room with sensory tools for anyone requiring it. Please inform us if you require BSL interpreting or have any other access needs (including mental health needs).
Pricing and Ticket Allocation
We operate a justice based pricing structure that accounts for the racial pay gap and the impact of systemic oppression on economics. We invite white allies to practise justice principles by paying a solidarity price if they can afford to do so, as this will support marginalised practitioners and trainees to attend the event. We have allocated 50 tickets to racialised practitioners and trainees and 25 to allies as a way of de-centring whiteness in the space and supporting marginalised voices to be heard.
We look forward to sharing space and building power with you!
Black Psychotherapy Team
“I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important to me must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.”
― Audre Lorde
Location
The Advocacy Academy, SW9 7QR