Plenary 2: 'Identity & belonging - the importance of religion, faith and spirituality in therapeutic spaces.

Plenary Description

What happens when belief matters deeply to someone, but they are unsure whether there is room to speak about it in therapy? Bringing together clinical and faith perspectives, this plenary will look at the assumptions people encounter, the effect those assumptions have on trust, and the ways the wider world enters the therapeutic space.

Holding in mind intersectionality with race, ethnicity and culture, we’ll consider what clinicians can take into practice: how to ask without presuming, listening whilst discerning conflated narratives from wider societal discourses and recognise when something significant has been left unsaid. The speakers will also highlight the difficulties of being positioned as a voice for the whole community. They will 'come as they are' sharing the richness and complexity of their faith identities; both the apparent and the hidden to challenge this reductionist approach perpetuated by extremists, the media and politicians.

Biographies

Rabbi Charley Baginsky

Rabbi Charley Baginsky is the UK’s most senior female rabbi. She is Co-Lead of The Movement for Progressive Judaism, Britain’s largest Jewish movement by number of communities. Her work includes exploring identity, belonging, interfaith relationships and how communities navigate difference and polarisation.. She is a regular contributor to Thought for the Day on BBC Radio 4 and a signatory to the Drumlanrig Muslim-Jewish Reconciliation Accords.

Dr Rachel Abedi

Dr Rachel Abedi is a Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist with a background in CAMHS, schools and the third sector. She has taught on various post-graduate courses at the Tavistock & Portman, and is a doctoral research supervisor. The focus of Rachel's research and practice is how intersectional aspects of identity - particularly faith - affect mental healthcare for children. The significance of faith identity is rarely fully considered in mainstream trainings and practice, despite the consequences of ignoring or making assumptions about faith when working with families. This has a particular impact on Muslim families, mainly due to socio-political attitudes towards Muslims, racism, poverty and stigma, which combine to create a sense that therapy is ‘not for us’.

In 2022, Rachel began piloting free, collaborative, community-based child psychotherapy services for children and young people of Muslim heritage background aged 2 - 25, hoping to build trust in communities and offer accessible, effective treatment. She went on to found The Reflection Project, a charity developing this work across London and beyond. TRP’s 14-strong multidisciplinary team currently delivers services including therapy, parent work, workshops and training for child mental health professionals.

Rachel regularly contributes to conferences, publications and research to discuss the TRP model and the need to consider faith identity in mainstream trainings and service delivery.

Hazel Hyslop

Hazel Hyslop is originally from Trinidad and Tobago and came to the UK in 1991. She trained as a Registered Mental Health Nurse and studied Psychology before specialising in Systemic and Family Psychotherapy and later Coaching.

Hazel is a UKCP-registered Systemic Psychotherapist, Systemic Supervisor, Trainer and accredited Executive Coach, with over 30 years’ experience across health, social care, education and organisational settings. She currently works with the private, third and public sector organisations, providing leadership coaching, therapy, training and reflective spaces. Her work is grounded in relational and systemic thinking, with particular interests in workplace wellbeing, identity, values and belonging.

Hazel also has a particular interest in creating spaces that support women’s growth and transformation. She developed Sistas Circles, a reflective and relational programme for women from the Global Majority, offering a space for connection, self-discovery, healing and belonging.

Hazel is the author of Bringing Your Heart to Work: A Seven-Step Journey to Mental Health and Wellbeing, published in 2025 as part of the UKCP Psychotherapy Matters series and warmly received with five-star reviews. She is currently contributing a chapter applying systemic principles to team coaching for an Association for Coaching publication. She also delivers workshops and speaking events, including reflective work with Women in Ministry in the Church of England.

Hazel is a practicing Christian and her faith is an integral part of her life. Outside work, she enjoys sea swimming, African djembe drumming, Pilates, yoga, dancing, singing and spending time in nature."