Looking out whilst considering what lies within: engaging in further thought about one’s own relationship with diversity and difference

ABSTRACT

This paper consists of a collection of individual learning and developmental experiences in the area of diversity and difference, based on the author’s participation in the ‘difference; identity; diversity’ workshop, as part of the Tavistock Clinic’s child psychotherapy training. There is a discussion here of how this learning took place, through a consideration of relevant theory, historical context, and clinical examples within the workshop’s individual seminars. In the seminars, the exploration of all these components was further enhanced by individual and group reflective processes, which formed part of the workshop. The paper highlights how the facilitating environment that was created through the containing net of all these components within the workshop allowed for my individual exploration of and learning about both internal and external diversity. This kind of learning is not commonplace in child psychotherapy trainings, which is to the detriment of child psychotherapists’ individual development, the training process itself, and the profession as a whole.

KEYWORDS:

• Diversity
• difference
• child psychotherapy training
• diversity workshop

Acknowledgments

I give my heartfelt thanks to Krisna Catsaras, Geraldine Crehan and the whole group of the difference and diversity workshop I attended. The learning experiences I had within the group over the academic year I participated are ones I will continue to think about and draw upon in both my future clinical work and in my personal life. I also give thanks to Lydia Hartland-Rowe for the gentle nudge into the direction of the workshop in the first place. Without this push, I would not have had the learning experience I did.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Jonathan Bowden-Howl

Jonathan Bowden-Howl is a child and adolescent psychotherapist working in a specialist provision for looked after and adopted children in Norfolk which supports young people and their carers through significant transitions, such as when placements are at risk of breaking down or when reunification with birth families is being considered. Jonathan previously worked in community CAMHS as both a qualified and trainee child and adolescent psychotherapist, prior to this he worked as a mental health nurse in various CAMHS inpatient units. Jonathan has interests in thinking about diversity and how it influences therapeutic work, as well as considering young people’s lived experiences of help prior to engaging in formal therapy. The latter is the topic Jonathan explored in his doctoral thesis.