I’ve enrolled in a research study – and you can too – looking at “Fighting Non-Diabetic Chronic Kidney Disease” at a London Teaching Hospital. You may get an “inconvenience payment” for your time. That term makes me laugh. Yes, it’s totally inconvenient living with chronic kidney disease. 

A new client, a black woman in her 40s, was emotional at the end
of our initial session. ‘It’s been so challenging to find a therapist, and one who is culturally sensitive,’ she said. ‘It feels like a load has been lifted off my shoulders.’ As I smiled at her, I didn’t tell her what I was thinking – that I never thought as a black, working-class woman diagnosed at age 49 with dyslexia, I would be working as a qualified counsellor in private practice at age 50.

Burnout is a hot topic these days and with good reason. In a culture that encourages us to do more, it’s easy to veer into “too much,” especially if you mean well. This is what happened to me. I recently received a diagnosis of osteoarthritis and had an inflammation flare-up I’m convinced was caused by stress and being on the brink of burnout

I have recently been talking a lot in my clinical work and personal relationships about boundaries. I have noticed that complicated, tricky or even abusive relationships or circumstances can often be a struggle to distance from or navigate, due to ideological or circumstantial reasons such as finances, cultural and religious norms, values or tensions, traditions, or a lack of an alternative support network.

This post captures the key themes of alienation, oppression and deception that are core to Karen Minikin’s new book: Radical-Relational Perspectives in Transactional Analysis Psychotherapy. Soon to be published by Routledge.

The most potent weapon in the hands of the oppressor is the mind of the oppressed – Steve Biko

Self-love and self-discovery go hand in hand. To love oneself, you must know oneself on a deep level. This involves understanding your values, beliefs, aspirations, and desires.

BAATN was there, at the Ritzy in Brixton on Saturday 24th June, for the premiere of the documentary film ‘Barrel Children: the families Windrush left behind’ by Nadine White. Barrel children is a term used loosely to refer to the children whose parents migrated to the UK and a reference to the cardboard barrels used to ship goods to family members back on the islands. The film is an inspiration for families of Caribbean heritage.

Taking a proactive stance against racism means engaging our minds, bodies and interpersonal selves. How can we develop the capacities we need for this essential and often deeply challenging work? Psychotherapist Eugene Ellis, founder of the Black, African and Asian Therapy Network, author of The Race Conversation and co-editor of the new book Therapy in Colour, outlines three core resources to help therapists stay on – or come to – the path of anti-racist practice.

This following piece of writing is taken from the Introduction of my new book, Inner Life Writes: A Manifesto For RE-Connecting To Love, RE-Newing Your Light and Radiating Your Light. Book two in my Back To Love series.

Ex-psychotherapist and author Maame Blue reflects on the impact that creative writing had on her practice, and how psychotherapy has influenced her as a writer today.