Why are we starting this group?
Many of us will recognise that aspects of our cultural backgrounds and status as minoritized groups/”minority ethnic groups” present unique challenges and opportunities in our work. When adverse, our experiences in work, particularly those related to our cultural background or minoritized status, affect our functioning and wellbeing and impair our ability to live the lives that we have reason to value and perform to our potential.
Designed for Black Caribbean doctors and dentists working within our demanding health services, this group aims to provide a space to come together and reflect on our experiences, difficulties and dilemmas in the hope that through reflecting together, we can learn from the different ways that we perceive and respond to adversity, picking up new skills and honing those that we already have whilst feeling heard and supported, in order to improve our awareness of self and others as well as our ability to cope with adversity and gain support when needed.
What happens in the group?
The group will be facilitated by Dr Michael Grant who is a Consultant Child Psychiatrist working in London and Dr Megan Parsons who is a Junior Doctor in Psychiatry working in Birmingham. The facilitators are not there as therapists or supervisors but to facilitate group discussion in a way that creates a safe space that encourages curiosity, bravery, compassion and accountability; that recognises that all members will have something of value to bring to the discussion, regardless of age, qualification or past experience and that enables the group to benefit from all members through helping to cultivate a space where all feel able to share openly and honestly.
The format of the group will be that we will meet via zoom for one hour between 20:00 and 21:00 on the last Thursday of the month with our first session starting this month, Thursday 27th January. Those attending will have the opportunity to bring up any work-related issue which comes to mind, including feelings about being at work. This might be a specific issue that they face or issues faced by all members of the group, they may be related to life as a Black doctor or the COVID pandemic but may not be. There will then be time for the group to reflect on what has been brought up and through exploring how this issue resonates with members, we will come closer to achieving the aforementioned aims of the group.
As this is a new group, we will initially run a trial over 6 months before evaluating whether it is beneficial to continue and whether any changes should be made. In order to ensure that members gain maximum benefit from the group, enabling each session to build on from the last and enabling us to create a sense of familiarity, connection and safety, we request that you attend a minimum of 4 of the 6 sessions. In order to further facilitate building relationships within the group, we will start the zoom meeting at 19:30 so feel free to join for an informal chat.
We hope that this provides you with enough information to decide whether this is a group that you would be interested in joining or not and look forward to those who are interested getting in touch. If you are interested but the day or time do not suit you, please still contact us as we may be able to adjust the timing if another time suits more members. If you have any other questions about the group, please contact us.
Michael and Megan