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Mixed race, mixed racism and mental health 29 October 2009

Mixed race, mixed racism and mental health 29 October 2009. Early intervention and therapeutic services for families and young people Family therapy Yvonne Ayo The Tavistock Centre. SYSTEMIC THERAPY WITH FAMILIES Yvonne Ayo Systemic Psychotherapist 29 th October 2009. Racial Awareness.

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Mixed race, mixed racism and mental health 29 October 2009

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  1. Mixed race, mixed racism and mental health29 October 2009 Early intervention and therapeutic services for families and young people Family therapy Yvonne Ayo The Tavistock Centre

  2. SYSTEMIC THERAPY WITH FAMILIESYvonne AyoSystemic Psychotherapist29th October 2009

  3. Racial Awareness • Is the ability to recognize that race exists and that it shapes reality in inequitable ways. • When racial awareness develops, individuals abandon common refrains such as ‘I don’t see race or skin colour,’ and ‘we’re all the same because we are members of the human race’. We could include in these refrains, that of, ‘we don’t really have many black and ethnic minority clients who use our service’.

  4. Racial Sensitivity • The possession of some cognitive understanding of the existence of race and racism and how they shape reality but can translate their awareness into action. Those who are racially sensitive use themselves ‘to actively challenge attitudes, behaviours, and conditions that create or reinforce racial injustice’ • (Hardy,K. and Laszloffy, 1998) The dynamics of a pro-racist ideology: Implications for family therapists in McGoldrick, M. Re-visioning family therapy: Race, culture and gender in clinical practice. New York: Guildford Press. • Racial sensitivity requires empathy and the capacity to relate, especially cross-racially, in ways that make others feel racially understood and comfortable. • Hardy, K. and Laszloffy, T. (2000) Uncommon Strategies for a Common Problem: Addressing Racism in Family Therapy in Family Process. Vol. 39. Issue !. pp. 35-50.

  5. Social GRRAACCEESS • Social GRRAACCEESS and its variations is an ancronym which stands for: • Gender • Race • Religion • Age • Ability • Class • Culture • Ethnicity • Education • Sexuality • Spirituality

  6. This linear list offers clarity but fails to embrace the complexity involved so it stands for a position that says that these aspects of experience are important, interrelated and constitutive of a person’s experience in all aspects of their life. • Burnham,J. Palma, D. and Whitehouse, L. (2008) Learning as a context for differences and differences as a context for learning in Journal of Family Therapy. 30: 529-542.

  7. It provides a checklist which can be used by therapists when reviewing a session to ask: • To what extent have I paid or not paid attention to the social GRRAACCEESS? • What particular areas are to be further explored whilst being mindful of the client/therapist relationship and the presenting problem. • What risks might there be if I were to enquire further? • How might I do this in a way which demonstrates my comfort with the topic to enable the client(s) to respond in a way which is meaningful to them?

  8. VISIBLE/VOICEDVISIBLE/UNVOICED • Differences (Social GRRAACCEESS) are always present and important questions can be asked by the therapist, team members, supervisors such as: • What similarities/differences are visible/voiced. • What similarities/differences are visible/unvoiced. • What similarities/differences am I aware of in this therapeutic relationship. • What differences do we want to name and what differences do we want to silence. • Burnham,J. Palma, D. and Whitehouse, L. (2008) Learning as a context for differences and differences as a context for learning in Journal of Family Therapy. 30: 529-542.

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