Culturally informed services

The death of George Floyd triggered widespread protests around the globe, amplified demands to end racial injustice and generated unprecedented support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

At West London Action for Children, we have always served a richly diverse inner London community and our therapeutic approach is client led and solutions focused. This means that we listen carefully and respond positively to each family’s unique circumstances and needs. We are curious and empathetic. We avoid judging, jumping to conclusions or using a ‘one-size-fits-all’ model. We tailor our services to best meet the particular needs of each unique family.

We are encouraged by the consistent feedback from our clients that we create a ‘safe space’ for them to talk, that they ‘feel heard’, that we meet them ‘with compassion’ and that don’t feel ‘judged’.

But we are not complacent. We know that every single one of us has unconscious biases. For example, we all have affinity bias; the unconscious tendency to get along with others who we think are like us. And we all bring our own backgrounds, contexts and assumptions to the situations we face, the decisions we make and even the support we offer to others.

At West London Action for Children our response to #BlackLivesMatter has been to recognise that we need to step up our efforts to ensure that our counselling and therapy services are culturally informed. In a society where racism, discrimination and injustices persist, we need to ‘dial up’ our empathy. We need to see and hear each other and our clients for who they are. This is extremely important for the therapist:client relationship. Otherwise we risk withdrawal by clients, many of whom are already struggling with feelings of anger, fear, isolation and hopelessness.

Over the past 18 months, we have done a lot of reflective and practical work internally to respond to this challenge. Members of our team have shared their personal stories and we have heard their lived experiences of racism and discrimination. One of our therapists has developed a research interest in intergenerational racialized trauma and is looking to develop a culturally strengths-based approach in her work as an infant-parent psychotherapist with families of all cultures.

As a team we have had open and reflective discussions about race and the implications for the work that we are doing. In September, we held a seminar with our Trustees and key volunteers to share and reflect. We were heartened by the level of interest and support.

Conversations about race can be uncomfortable. They can trigger feelings of shame, denial, despondency and disillusionment. But they are important. As an organisation we recognise that we must critically examine how decisions are made; which families are referred to us? by whom? who defines ‘the problem’ for each family? what assumptions are we are making about the safety or capacity of our clients? what is ‘good’ parenting?

We know that we live in a culturally complex world. Together with our client families, we are all on a journey of discovery. At West London Action for Children we recognise that we have much to learn from each other. This is a source of hope.

With your help, we are reaching and helping those in most need within our community. Our client families know that the services we offer them rely on the kindness and generosity of other members of the community, whom they may never meet. This is also a source of hope.

The things that unite us as human beings, parents, families and members of the community are stronger than the fear and intolerances that sometimes threaten to divide us. At West London Action for Children, we feel a deep sense of connectedness.

Thank you for helping us being the change we want to see in the wider community.