Such a Gorgeous Paradox

I asked my first guest, Kairo Maynard, to return to the podcast and interview me. We talk about my journey into Dramatherapy, my queer identity, my health, and radical rest. 

I am a queer-identifying and queer-affirming therapist. I initially qualified as a dramatherapist, and I'm currently doing an additional diploma in Psychosexual Therapy,  as I believe that sexuality and relationships are key aspects of a whole and joyful life. My approach to therapy practice can be described as fluid, personable, curious, and compassionate. I have worked in the fields of substance misuse, sexual health, trauma, general adult mental health, parenting, and children’s mental health, which has given me a well-rounded understanding of an individual’s lifespan. I am passionate about supporting others in finding clarity from anxiety and overwhelm, by better understanding and connecting to their identities, their relationships, their needs and wants, their histories, and their passions.

Be in touch: suchagorgeousparadox@gmail.com

Dr. Bruce Howard Bayley was born in Mumbai, India and is an Anglo-Indian Dramatherapist in Central London working specifically with bereavement, sexuality, gender, trauma and recoverers from addictions, self-harm and abuses (physical, sexual and spiritual). He has presented papers and workshops, including his own Tribuvan Threefold Psycho-Spiritual Dramatherapy, in the UK, Germany (Nürtingen), Milan, Poland (Warsaw), Beijing, Chennai, Mumbai and Pune. Additionally, he has been associated with a number of UK universities as trainer, supervisor and external examiner with a special interest in the development of multi-cultural clinical practice and marginalized populations.

Be in touch: suchagorgeousparadox@gmail.com

Sam trained at the University of Roehampton where she now also teaches the Therapeutic Stories Unit, having been a performer and storyteller for over two decades. She is an Executive member of BADth and is currently organising the 2021 conference themed to issues spotlighted by pandemic and Black Lives Matter. Sam works as a Dramatherapist in a primary school with children excluded from mainstream education, and with women at risk of the criminal justice system. Her research interests include: generational trauma connected to colonialism, structural racism, ritual performance as restoration and activism, and heritage object work with her mother’s original Windrush suitcase.

Written work includes:

Eshmit Kaur is an Initiated Sikh. She is a Dramatherapist, trained actor, spoken word artist and freelance creative practitioner. Her spiritual path is the foundation of all of her work, which is a constant reminder to always Serve others.

Eshmit has worked extensively in the Sikh Community by delivering performances and creating projects to capture Sikh Heritage and History in an accessible format. Her creative projects have been funded by Arts Council England twice, and has performed nationally and internationally as a performance artist. Eshmit has created radio pieces for the BBC on several occasions and collaborated with various community organisations over the past six years.

Eshmit currently works in a CAMHS Service, offering therapeutic interventions to diverse, and primarily South Asian Communities. She values trauma, attachment and intersectionality within her practice. Moreover, Eshmit is part of BADth's Inclusivity and Visibility Subcommittee, co-founder of 'DiversArty' - a supportive space for ethnically diverse Arts Psychotherapists at the University of Derby and has presented twice at BADth's Annual Conference. She is currently involved in various projects about identity and spirituality in therapeutic practice. 

You can find out more about Eshmit here https://www.eshmitkaur.com

Be in touch: suchagorgeousparadox@gmail.com

Mandy is a dramatherapist, trainer and clinical supervisor. A former senior lecturer in dramatherapy at Anglia Ruskin University, she is interested in the connections between politics, religion and therapy. Her background as a Progressive Jew from Liverpool is a key factor driving her passion for widening inclusion in society. In her first career as a teacher, Mandy headed several departments of 'English as an Additional Language' in inner-city secondary schools. Her interest in intercultural work, has led to a range of roles which have included convening the BADth (British Association of Dramatherapists) Equality and Diversity (now Inclusion and Visibility) Sub-Committee from 2007-2018. 

A range of publications includes 'Dramatherapy and Religion: (Un) comfortable Bedfellows? In Honour of Dr Roger Grainger' (with Ditty Dokter) Dramatherapy 39, No.1, pp.16-28, Routledge. 2018 Further details: https://www.woolf.cam.ac.uk/people/amanda-mandy-carr 

Be in touch: suchagorgeousparadox@gmail.com

Content warning: explicit language is used in this episode, including an example of racist language.

Lucy is a passionate Creative Arts Psychotherapist who offers a different unique way to support children to find creative ways to communicate and express themselves. Lucy is also a Dyadic Developmental Psychotherapist (DDP informed) and has a special focus on adoption and foster care issues derived from her own personal experiences.

Lucy specialises in working with children who are impacted by developmental trauma and uses DDP to support children to make sense of things that have happened in their past to allow them to move forward into the next chapter of their lives. She works together with a child and their parent/carer to support them to have the best possible relationship with each other.

References:

Content warning: this episode includes discussions of sexual assault, suicidal ideation, and addiction, which listeners may find triggering. 

Simon Marks is a Dramatherapist and addictions counsellor at Mount Carmel rehab, where he delivers their addiction treatment programme. Simon also runs a private practice in Central London, specialising in Inner-Child work,  LGBTQ+ mental health, addiction, chemsex, trauma and co-dependency. He offers both individual and group work, and delivers a full range of training programmes in these areas. Simon also runs the long-running gay men’s discussion group, A Change Of Scene, and is himself in long-term recovery since 2007. 

Are you worried that you or someone you care about is struggling with alcohol, drugs, or chems? Long-term recovery is possible and there are many ways to find support. The opposite of addiction is connection…You are not alone. 

Having graduated from her undergraduate degree in Speech and Language therapy in 2010, and then teaching drama to children for a number of years, Sareena Rai knew there had to be a way to connect those dots and utilise the power in creativity within psychotherapy. Which is when Dramatherapy found her.

With only a few months to go, she reflects on her own journey into the world of Dramatherapy, what the term ‘gorgeous paradox’ means to her, and how it feels to be undertaking such a life changing course - amidst a pandemic.

Be in touch: suchagorgeousparadox@gmail.com

Hayley Southern is a Dramatherapist who is committed to promoting inclusion and visibility. She runs a private practice and has experience of working with a variety of client groups including adoption, addiction, forensics, LGBTQ+ community, education, and with people with physical and learning disabilities. Hayley regularly facilitates CPD training for health professionals, and also contributed to the Dramatherapy Journal (LGBTQ+ Special Edition). She is due to publish a chapter about Dramatherapy in special education.

Georgina Wilkinson is a Dramatherapist, who qualified in 2017 from the University of Derby. 

Since qualifying, Georgina has worked predominantly in education and charitable sectors, supporting Young People and Families. Today, although not solely, Georgina works largely with the LGBTQ+ community. Alongside her therapeutic work, Georgina also contributes to ongoing conversations and discussion regarding the LGBTQ+ community in the therapy world. This is both through her written research into Dramatherapy and Gender, as well as her ongoing support in BADth’s ‘LGBTQ+ Matters’ group (part of the Inclusion & Visibility Subcommittee), which also works in association with the wider Coalition Against Conversion Therapy group. 

References:

Kairo is currently a HCPC registered Dramatherapist working in a NHS Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service. 

Since her therapy training, her main interests and the driving force for her work focus on intergenerational trauma and attachment, racial injustice and health inequalities which she has spoken and written about on a number of occasions. Alongside her therapy work, she is the Equality and Diversity Lead for her service and is passionate about improving access to mental health services for Black and other marginalised communities, whilst also advocating for further inclusion and visibility of Black, Asian and ethnic minority therapists and trainees. 

A list of her writings include:

In this episode, I talk about the season ahead. This series of episodes will focus on Dramatherapy, a form of psychotherapy which uses elements of drama in its support of mental health difficulties, trauma, and personal growth. I briefly share my journey into the profession and all the things I have done since qualifying as a therapist, particularly my role within The British Association of Dramatherapists' Inclusion & Visibility Subcommittee. 

References:

Welcome to Such a Gorgeous Paradox! My name is Ryan and I will be your host. 

In this brief episode, I cover my inspiration and intentions for the podcast, and a little bit about myself.

References: