Support@ayatrainingdevelopment.com
Our Philosophy
Symbolism
Inspired by the ancient Adinkra symbols linked to the Ashanti people of Ghana, Aya represents the Fern; a hardy plant that can grow in difficult places. It is the symbol of endurance, independence, defiance against difficulties, hardiness, perseverance and resourcefulness (W.B Willis, The Adinkra Dictionary).
We use this symbolism to acknowledge the human ability to withstand many adversities, recognising the toll it can have on physical, mental and spiritual health.
We serve the community with a particular focus on the intersections of culture and minoritisation. With this in mind, we provide holistic trauma focused healing services aimed to support persons develop resourceful lifestyles, sustainable well-being coping strategies and enhanced trauma informed skills.
The ATD belief system
At Aya Training & Development, we believe that time heals within a psycho-social-spiritual system of processing and understanding, with this healing comes personal, professional and spiritual growth. The spirit of Ubuntu is also at the heart of what we do, how we do it and why we do it.
Ubuntu - I Am Becuase We Are
The spirit of Ubuntu influences cultural community connection on a global scale. Often displayed and experienced unconsciously, the Spirit of Ubuntu is rooted in interconnectedness and advocates compassion, humility and interdependents.
Our Mission
Mission ATD
Our mission is to contribute to generational change by supporting our clients heal from the adversities of life that can lead to symptoms of post traumatic stress, complex grief and attachment and separation issues, amongst other problems. Using a whole person approach, we consider how culture, ethnicity, race & spirituality (CERS), shapes identity & fundamental aspects of a persons life journey & mental health experiences.
Additionally our mission is to influence fundamental changes in core counselling and psychological training by infusing Ancient African-centred wisdom with Westernised psychological thinking; to enhance therapeutic practice, experience and outcomes for global majority persons subject to systemic racisim, segregation and marginalisation.
Ancient African-centred wisdom in therapy
African-centred therapy is relational in nature and is founded upon a humility approach to life. It promotes healing through interconnectedness with mind, body, spirit and the universe. Ancestral appreciation and community collectiveness aids the process of identifying your 'true self' using ancient African-centred inspired wisdom.
Intercultural therapy
Intercultural therapy adapts various models of therapy to fit the cultural context of the client, considering the socio-politial, racial-cultural and religious or spiritual beliefs of the individual. We believe providing inclusive, judgement free spaces to explore racial trauma and various intersectional adverse experiences is essential to the healing process for marginalised, minoritized & racialised persons.
Our Services
What we do
Led by Beverley J Weston, we specialise in Complex Trauma Mental Health (CTMH) talks, training intercultural therapy and clinical / counselling supervision or reflective decompression supervision. We cater for a mixed audience of psychological / mental health professionals, community leaders and other frontline helping professionals, as well as the general public.
Focus areas include addressing the impact of:
- Childhood trauma, abuse and neglect
- Complex grief
- Racial trauma & descrimination
- Relocation, migration and seperation issues
- Sexual trauma
- Victims of domestic abuse
& much more
