Nerissa is a Black Integrative Child and Adolescent psychotherapist and Anti-Racism Trainer. Nerissa has a BA in Music Industry Management and Marketing, an MA in Integrative Child Psychotherapy which she gained at the Institute for Arts in Therapy and Education (IATE) and is also a Certified Cyber Therapist. She is a registered member of BACP and a UKCP accredited Child and Adolescent psychotherapist. As a Black woman in the UK, Nerissa is well versed to Racism. Her first racial experience was as a young child. Now as an adult the racial injustices continues. Nerissa is a mother to two small children and works as a therapist in a Primary school in Islington. Nerissa first started her career working in the music industry. Her dream as a child was to either become an Artist or to discover artists and help them to flourish and live their dream. An unexpected change came along when she saw an advert for a job in a Children’s centre. The rest as they say is history. After graduating, Nerissa knew as a Black therapist she would need to develop and learn new skills to further help her clients especially those who identify as Black. Noticing themes of racism, oppression, isolation and hopelessness, Nerissa has been trying to find ways to support and give a voice to the feelings that for some have been suppressed. Nerissa works with a cultural lens creatively with children and families to help them to understand and make sense of their story. Nerissa’s desire to support people and inspire them to free their minds and open their hearts has motivated her to become the founder of Awakening Our Roots.