Is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) only for White people?
Episode Overview
In this final episode for 2021, we are joined by Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist Leila Lawton who draws upon her research with ethnic minority populations and raises a crucial question "Is CBT only for White people?". Leila offers advice on how to adapt therapy for racially minoritized communities and discusses the importance of cultural humility and sensitivity in clinical practice.
"It's only when there is a willingness to change things from a systemic level, and from a micro level - that therapeutic encounter, when CBT would just not be for White people..."
About Leila Lawton
Current Role: Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist, Chair of South London & Maudsley NHS Psychology and Psychotherapy Race Equity working group.
Episode Title: Is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) only for White people?
Episode #: Series 2: Episode 7
Link to Episode: https://anchor.fm/afsana9/episodes/Season-2-Episode-7--Is-Cognitive-Behavioural-Therapy-CBT-only-for-White-people-e1abf67
"People don't care how much you know, until they know how much you care."
Leila Lawton is a Cognitive Behavioural Psychotherapist and the Chair of South London & Maudsley NHS Psychology and Psychotherapy Race Equity working group. Leila's passion for people and inclusive clinical and research practice has been cultivated through 16 years combined experience within primary, secondary care and the third sector. Enhancing effectiveness of implementation of culturally congruent therapies.
Leila is committed to developing solutions through education to address systemic and structural racism, increasing racially minorities communities research participation and shaping policy for meaningful change. Creating equitable mental health provision for all. As such, Leila has found herself taking on a number of additional roles which include; Patient Carer Race Equality Framework (PCREF)Activist, British Association of Behavioural & Cognitive Psychotherapies (BABCP) Equality and Culture SIG member and visiting lecturer/ trainer on culturally safe/sensitive and adapted CBT.
"Do we make an effort to understand where they're coming from [service user]? Or do we make judgements that aren't spoken, but are felt. That's the real question."
Social Links
Twitter: @LeilaLawton3
LinkedIn: Leila Lawton
Publications: “Frontline yet at the back of the queue – improving access and adaptations to CBT for Black African and Caribbean communities”
“Reflecting on 'race': responses to psychosocial retraumatisation in the workplace”
“Call to Action - SLaM P&P Race Equity Working Group”