The 'Tree of Life' approach to talking therapy often meets the needs of men of African and Caribbean heritage more than other techniques, psychologists say.

"My team and local psychology services sought to address how we could make talking therapies more accessible and acceptable to African and Caribbean men who had lower referral rates to talking therapy services than their white counterparts."

Johannesburg-based Ncazelo Ncube Mlilo (pictured), a co-founder of the methodology, will introduce the concept to individuals as well as community and statutory organisations at an event in the West Midlands this Friday (June 6).

The Tree of Life is described as a culturally sensitive counselling approach that uses the tree as a metaphor to help people and communities to identify their strengths, hopes and dreams.

The narrative approach empowers people with mental health needs to reconnect with their roots and relationships to address.

The Tree of Life was introduced in UK psychological therapy services following the recommendations of African and Caribbean men who have used mental health services and for whom this approach resonated powerfully with their values.

It has been adapted by different communities to incorporate religious and cultural aspects of wellbeing and recovery.

For the last five years The Tree of Life has been deployed by Mental Health Trusts across the UK and other parts of the world, to support people who have experienced significant trauma and emotional distress.

Perspectives

Friday's event at Hawthorne House, Smethwick, is being co-ordinated by The Psychology Cafe and Red Earth Collective.

"We ran our first Tree of Life workshop back in 2013 and its popular demand has meant we have continued to run it for practitioners working in caring professionals ever since," said Maria Ferrin-Brown, Director of The Psychology Café.

"We ran our first Tree of Life workshop back in 2013 and its popular demand has meant we have continued to run it for practitioners working in caring professionals ever since."

"What we really like about this approach is the way it allows people to reconnect with stories of their lives in ways that help them to feel stronger and better able to face the ‘storms’ of life."

"For us, the Tree of Life also helps to break down the barriers that can exist between ‘professionals’ and ‘clients’."

"Instead of separateness it promotes a real sense of ‘working together’ from a position of a shared humanity."

"Recognising that we all have a story, no more or less valid than someone else’s story, is massively important and key to the way that we work as psychologists."

Sandra Griffiths of partners The Red Earth Collective said: "10 years ago I was introduced to Tree of Life methodology by a colleague, a forward thinking psychologist who co-faciliated a service that aimed to improve access to talking therapies to Black and Minority communities in the London Borough of Hackney."

"At the time I led an NHS based African and Caribbean mental health programme in East London. My team and local psychology services sought to address how we could make talking therapies more accessible and acceptable to African and Caribbean men who had lower referral rates to talking therapy services than their white counterparts."

"The Tree of Life methodology was chosen by the partnership as an approach due to its focus on positive aspects wanted by the men from talking therapies: skills, abilities, hopes and dreams and an emphasis on roots and heritage."

"We delivered Tree of Life sessions to 11 men in the community and we all shared, including the facilitators, our experiences, strengths and dreams and approach to life."

"It made a profound impact on my thinking about talking therapy and the need to focus on the strengths and aspirations of individuals and communities - without this there is no hope of recovery and well being."

More information