Culture and Cultural differences have long been missing from counselling training programs. However, the cultural and ethnic diversity of people accessing services is growing exponentially. The cultural differences between the client, their family, the therapeutic service and the larger society can lead to confusion and misunderstandings. Western psychotherapy might be seen by many as too Eurocentric. Furthermore, traditional psychotherapy can be misaligned to the client’s cultural beliefs and values. Creative arts therapy, such as Music Therapy, can be very effective with clients from different backgrounds. Therefore, it is essential to increase our understanding of culture and ethnic identity.

The goal of this training is to make Therapy more inclusive and compatible for clients from different cultural backgrounds.

Key goals of this session are:

• Increase knowledge and understanding of culture and ethnic identity
• Understand concepts of power and privilege as they relate to ethnic identity
• Self-exploration of one's cultural values, beliefs and heritage

The training is experiential and will be online via Zoom. It will involve discussions, break-out rooms and audio-visual tools. Please note that active participation (such as cameras on where possible and mics unmuted) is strongly encouraged.

This event is limited to 20 spaces only.

About Dr Anvita Madan-Bahel

Anvita Madan-Bahel holds a PhD in Counselling Psychology. She specializes in multicultural psychology and psychosexual and relational therapy. Her interests include cross-cultural psychology, diversity issues, sexual well-being, and trauma.

She has developed and facilitated diversity training at various universities and organizations. The topics have ranged from race, ethnicity, gender, class, religion and sexual identity. She is most passionate about designing culturally based programs that address minority-based issues. She designed one such program for her dissertation, using Bollywood film clips to discuss comprehensive sexuality education with South Asian girls in New York. The dissertation was published as a book: Sexual Health and Bollywood Films: A Culturally Based Program for South Asian Teenage Girls. NY: Cambria Press.

She is a diversity trainer with Nafsiyat, BAATN, Minster Centre, Charlie Waller Trust and Migrants Organise. She also develops and facilitates workshops working with refugees, asylum seekers and recent immigrants. Most importantly, she works towards reducing the taboo around sex and sexuality. Anvita currently lives in London and works as a therapist, trainer and lecturer.