Equality and diversity

We’re an organisational member of the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), and fully support their diversity and equalities statement (PDF, 214KB) and racial injustice statement.

As an organisation, we’re committed to creating an environment that supports people from all walks of life. We believe that diversity in gender and gender identity, race, sexuality, disability, age, ethnicity, socioeconomic status and culture is a key strength. It’s pivotal to creating a supportive environment for our staff, members and the public. We value diversity while rejecting division.

Addressing systemic racism

We recognise historic systemic and institutionalised racism within our society and how this legacy has a lasting impact on future generations of those affected by it.

We also recognise that systemic and institutional racism is still present within the UK today. We acknowledge the hurt and pain that marginalised communities have experienced, including members of AFSP.

We take our responsibility to address systemic racism, in all its forms, seriously.

We’re also continuing to challenge other marginalising practices and subjugation in all their diverse forms, including antisemitism, Islamophobia, homophobia, transphobia, misogyny and ageism, whenever these may occur.

The actions we’re taking

• We’re striving to provide equality in opportunities and ensure inclusivity within our organisational system. This includes, for example, embedding inclusivity in values, leadership and strategy. We also ensure the make-up of our board and team reflect the broad demographic of our membership.
• We strive to influence wider social and political issues, for example through our equality, diversity and inclusion groups that support practitioners’ engagement with current issues of concern.
• We’re exploring and learning together how to overcome issues, such as white privilege and unequal power, that exist across society.
• Through our various committees, including diversity, equality and inclusion and ethics, our board of trustees and staff are continuously working to develop and promote anti-racist practices. For example, through our ‘meet the board’ sessions, there is opportunity to reflect, listen and address key concerns for our global majority members. Through these discussions we seek to include the lived experience and community knowledge of our membership group in our strategic planning.
• We’re striving to make sure race, culture, social justice and equality have a continuous presence in clinical practice, supervision, teaching and training, on our website, in our publications and any online forums associated with AFSP.
• We’re working to ensure there is more training, writing and guidance for family and systemic psychotherapists who may need support to decolonise their practices.

Get in touch

If you have any questions, thoughts or concerns about equality and diversity at AFSP, please get in touch at hello@theafsp.org

We encourage and appreciate feedback as we strive to ensure that AFSP is a safe and open space for all.