culture, religion, class and disability requires we re-educate ourselves about the assumptions we make as professionals. It requires we seek out appropriate supervision and training that helps us understand the complexity and subtlety of our own unconscious bias, and that we remain committed to continually growing our understanding and self refl ection – undefensively and with humility. Isn’t seeking help ourselves in understanding these complexities a more ethical position than denying we need to? I guess that my plea in conclusion to this extended 1000 word ar-
ticle is that we all make ourselves a bit more aware of what we need to know in order to work eff ectively with vulnerable young people includ- ing trans youth with additional intersectional issues such as colour, race, religion and class. Regardless of modality, we can’t ignore the onerous responsibility once we read and understand what the statistics tell us – that young lives are at stake. Young people are our future after all.
References Choudry, S. (2016) Supporting BAME Trans People. Accessed 9 October 2017
https://www.gires.org.uk/inclusivity-supporting-bame-trans-people/ Lago, C. (2011) (ed.) The Handbook of Transcultural Counselling and Psychotherapy. Basingstoke: Open University Press. Mackenzie-Mavinga, I. (2009) Black Issues in the Therapeutic Process. Basingstoke: Palgrave. Mackenzie-Mavinga, I. (2016) The Challenge of Racism in Therapeutic Practice. Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Image by artist Mali Gupta-Archer Mali Gupta-Archer I am a non binary, mixed race young person who uses art as a
way to express myself and educate people. Each of the messages in this artwork is meaningful to me as
a trans person; ‘the word transgender is an adjective’ is short and simple but expresses so much. Oſt en, I hear people using words like ‘transgendered’ or ‘transgenders’ and this is frustrating and hurtful because it turns an adjective into a defi ning noun. It makes the topic sound distant and strange, like a transgender person is defi ned solely by their identity. Of course being trans is an integral part of who I am, but it is only a describing word - I’m trans, but I’m also mixed race, an activist, an artist and so much more! ‘Trans people have always existed’ is another vital message I want
Kris Black is currently in private practice working as an integrative arts psychotherapist, UKCP and BACP registered, and is a clinical and group supervisor. Currently completing a masters by conversion as a child and adolescent psychotherapist, Kris worked in East London for 17+ years as a therapist with children and young people from working class, BME and refugee communities in primary and secondary schools, and is an ex Kidsco supervisor
They have worked with bi and gay men with HIV for many years at Terrence Higgins Trust, and with BAME and LGBTQIA youth in the Talksafe project. Kris has over 35 years’ experience of working therapeutically with adults, adolescents, children and families from diverse communities, and is passionate about making therapy and counselling an accessible tool for psychological liberation. Kris is part of the Free Psychotherapy Network.
They have served on professional committees including UKCP’s diversity equality and social responsibility committee, and has served on the UKCP education, training and standards committee. Kris is currently a Pink Therapy representative to the psy-professions Memorandum of Understanding Workgroup Against Reparative Therapy.
Kris is a Pink Therapy clinical associate, a leadership with BAATN (The Black, African & Asian Therapy Network), and a freelance trainer and groupworker.
Kris has participated in many workgroups, campaigns and conferences for POC / LGBT+ liberation within their lifetime, and has also worked as a trainer, educationalist, keynote speaker and workshop leader on issues
Context 155, February 2018
to get across. Particularly as a young person I oſt en meet people who think that being transgender or non binary is a new phenomenon, or that it is a fad that will go out of fashion. Trans people have always been contributing members of society - just research the Hijra Community, Marsha P Johnson or Chevalier d’Éon and you’ll see we’ve always existed! As a non binary person an affi rming part of my journey was learning this history and understanding that my identity is valid. T e last message is ‘protect trans kids’ and this is perhaps
the most important one. Children and young people who are transgender, non binary, gender variant or questioning oſt en face judgement for simply expressing themselves. It can be diffi cult to navigate society when you’re trans, and even harder when you have adults questioning and challenging your identity every step of the way. Children and young people should be able to freely express themselves – what we need is acceptance, support and love from our family and friends.
including discrimination, gender and sexual diversity, sexual violence, working with LGBTQIA and QTIPOC youth and Understanding Intersectionality. Kris has never stopped believing the personal is political, and uses they, them, theirs as pronouns.
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