Student Support Gatherings

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This is a Closed Practitioner Event

These groups are for those of Black, African, South Asian and Caribbean heritage who are training to become psychotherapists and counsellors. These gatherings are also open to student therapists of colour who are affected by prejudice due to the colour of their skin and global white power.

Students who have completed their course and are working towards registration are also invited.

Meet the Student Gathering Facilitators

Time: 10:30 – 13:00

Gatherings are held on Saturdays, monthly – Online via Zoom

23 October 2021                                                    20 November 2021
18 December 2021
15 January 2022                                                      26 February 2022 
19 March 2022 
16 April 2022 
21 May 2022 
4 June 2022
30 July 2022
27 August 2022 
17 September 2022

Training to become a psychotherapist or counsellor of colour presents us with the challenge of finding our voice within the silence of our minority experience. The BAATN Student Support Groups provide a space to tell our stories, clarify our dilemmas and be met with enthusiasm, dialogue and support.

Each group will be facilitated by our Support Group Facilitators who are all qualified and registered psychotherapists and have an African South Asian or Caribbean heritage. Facilitators have also signed up to BAATN’s Core Values statement. The group are open to all students whatever their theoretical orientation.

The group will be for a maximum of 12 people.

To find out about the kinds of themes or topics under discussion, as well as projects that individual groups are in the process of undertaking at some of the other BAATN gatherings, please take a look here.

“I was touched and encouraged to press forward on my course and brought to a place of deeper appreciation of my particular learning environment”

“I can see myself training in counselling with the support of such a group”

Feedback from the groups
Cost:
  • These events are free to Psychological Therapist Members and Student Therapist Members, £10 for Non-members.
Booking:
  • You can book gatherings up until the day before the gathering at 5 pm
  • Only the next two upcoming dates will be open for registration at any one time.
  • If you have difficulty booking, you can email membershipandevents@baatn.org.uk
  • If an event is full, email membershipandevents@baatn.org.uk to go on the waiting list. If a place becomes available before 5pm on the day before the event, priority will be given to those at the top of the waiting list.
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Feedback about the groups

Watch 5 students talk about their experience in training and in the Student Support Groups in our 5 Student Voices Video

Other comments from students and facilitators:
“it was a safe space for me to be vulnerable”
 “gives me the strength, inspiration and encouragement to continue and qualify”

“An inspiring gathering of counselling and psychotherapy students ranging from those who had just started their course to those who were nearing the end of their course and writing dissertations. The gathering included both newcomers and regulars. It was my pleasure to watch them listening to each other, validating each other’s experiences, sharing information and offering each other support.”  

“I totally enjoyed the support groups. I found them safe to disclose and share my experience in, which was a huge area of disappointment, judgement and pain for me whilst training. The group felt more like fellowship which had a beautiful aura about it and I found the input from my peers informative. I made some wonderful friends and have kept in contact with them ever since.”
 
“The theories were really interesting, but also a huge shock, we are not taught about the “real” impact for BME therapists and client relations on our course.”
 
“My experience of the groups was richly rewarding and very unique. Hearing others experience of training to be counsellors or personal brought new things into my awareness. The group itself being Black and Asian was incredibly new to me and hit so many parts of me that others have difficulties understanding.” 
 
“The group I attended provided a lot of theoretical thinking. I particularly enjoyed culture scripts and the work of Isha Mavinga-Mckenzie on Recognition Trauma, which supported me in training. All handouts and book recommendations led me to further awareness of my own process and clients.” 
 
“I found it very useful and supportive to cope with what I perceived to be defensive behaviour amongst white peers when race was raised for discussion, and I felt myself isolated and seen as a ‘troublemaker’ as I was determined that race would not be brushed under the carpet.  It helped me to deal with my anger, stay reasonably objective and understand that white reaction in my classes was not personal. It was also useful to learn from the facilitators that the way race was responded to or for that matter, taught on courses, has not changed much in the last 20 years or so.”
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