Culturally sensitive therapies

Sprig illustration teal

We recognise and celebrate the cultural diversity of Lewisham borough, which is why we strive to deliver culturally sensitive therapeutic interventions across our service.

We aim to break the stigma that is often associated with mental health as we empower you to reclaim control and address your difficulties one step at a time.

If you want to learn more about how and why we are working to make our service more inclusive then please download this booklet.

Meet our Therapists

Watch the videos below to learn more about the therapies that we offer and to to meet our therapists who are committed to providing culturally sensitive therapy.

Asking for help

Sometimes it can be difficult to acknowledge something is not feeling right and to talk about this. Struggling with mental health can happen to anyone, so the best thing to do about it is to reach out for help.

Local culturally sensitive therapy resources

LRMN

Lewisham Refugee and Migrant Network

Free and confidential immigration advice.
Free advice on housing and accessing a number of welfare benefits.
Women Together Project: aims to improve the health and wellbeing of women with a refugee, asylum seeker and migrant background who have experienced trauma due gender-based violence.
Partnership with Lewisham Community Wellbeing service to help people manage their mental health and wellbeing.
The Migrant Hub: drop-in service offering free advice and practical support to refugees, asylum seekers and migrants.
Refugee Resettlement – Supporting people wishing to integrate into the local community and learn new skills.

AFRIL logo

Action for Refugees in Lewisham (AFRIL)

Working alongside a range of organisations to meet the needs of asylum seekers, vulnerable migrants and refugees in South East London.
Free and impartial advice, assistance and advocacy to support with issues related to asylum, welfare, housing, education etc.
Saturday school for children aged from 4 to 11 years old from refugee and asylum seeker backgrounds (English & Maths lessons).
Foodbank providing sustained support (food and toiletry parcels) for refugee, asylum-seeker, and vulnerable migrant families.

Mind Lewisham logo

MIND Lewisham: Engage in ME

Mental health and wellbeing support groups for adults from Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic and Refugee (BAMER) communities in the London borough of Lewisham.

Six week programme through Zoom
Support to manage mental health and wellbeing, with a specific (current) focus on the psychological and emotional needs raised by the COVID-19 pandemic. Support to access other relevant, local online support services. Opportunity to meet, learn and share with other people experiencing mental health difficulties in a welcoming and understanding place. Discuss cultural needs and how services can support better.

SIRG logo

Social Inclusion Recovery Group (S.I.R.G)

Free referral-based service established to provide advocacy for the Black community.
Aims to provide support for practical, emotional and social needs.
Focus on providing: Mental Health Advocacy, Educational Advocacy, Domiciliary Care, and training.

BAMEStream: Bereavement Support

Free, culturally competent, brief emotional online support to anyone aged 18 and over who identifies as Black, Asian or any other Minoritised Ethnicity who has been affected by the death of a loved one due to Covid-19, and is registered with a GP in England.
Brief Individual or online therapeutic support in over 20 different languages.

BAATNMenuLogo

The Black African & Asian Therapy Network (BAATN)

Directory of counsellors, psychotherapists, and psychologists from Black African and Asian ethnic backgrounds.
BLAM UK logo

BLAM UK

BLAM UK aim to promote a positive dialogue of social identity and culture through history. Zuri Therapy is their Racial Wellness Therapy Workshops. It is a range of free, virtual group sessions for Black British people.
IRMO Logo

IndoAmerican Refugee Migrant Organization (IRMO)

Provides Latin Americans (Spanish & Portuguese speakers) with support, advice and information.

LMLAS logo

Lewisham Multilingual Advice Service (LMLAS)

Free and impartial advice, assistance and advocacy in different languages.
Support with issues related to welfare benefits, health, housing, employment, debt, education etc.
Signposting and referrals to relevant agencies.
Main languages are Albanian, Arabic, Bengali, French, Italian, Kurdish, Portuguese, Spanish, Somali, Turkish, Polish & Vietnamese.

ekaya logo

Ekaya Housing Association

Housing and accommodation support to predominately black and ethnic minority women and their families in South London (Lambeth, Southwark, Wandsworth, Lewisham, Croydon, Bromley, Greenwich and Merton).
Provides temporary and permanent housing and support services.

WCC logo

Waterloo Community Counselling: Multi-Ethnic Counselling Service (MECS)

Provides mother-tongue counselling to migrants, refugees and asylum seekers at no cost to the clients.
Offers mother-tongue counselling for up to 12 sessions.
Mother tongue counselling can currently be provided in the following languages: Bengali, Cantonese, French, Ga, Hindi, Italian, Kurdish, Krio, Mandarin, Mirpuri, Polish, Russian, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Turkish, Tigrinya, Twi and Yoruba.
Open to refugees or asylum seekers above the age of 18 and registered with a GP in any London borough.

The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) UK

The Association of Black Psychologists (ABPsi) UK

Emotional Emancipation Circles (EECs) are culturally grounded self-help support groups designed to help heal the trauma caused by anti-Black racism.
Pattigift Therapy CIC

Pattigift Therapy CIC

In response to the dual global pandemics of Covid-19 and systemic racism, Pattigift Therapy is offering culturally grounded Healing Circles for all members of the African Heritage community for Covid -19 and beyond.
Our Naked Truths

Our Naked Truths

Our Naked Truths is a life art therapy series celebrating the bodies and stories of femmes through life art, meditation & conversation.

Service User Advisory Group

Lewisham Talking Therapies’ Service User Advisory Group (SUAG) is a way for service
users and their carers to help us to plan, develop and improve our service.

We particularly welcome involvement from individuals from BAME backgrounds.
For more information on how to join click here. 

A review of our service

“I had a short course of CBT self-help sessions. It was very helpful and I have a toolkit for taking things forward. It was very useful investment of my time.”