About Nerissa

I am an Accredited Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist, a Clinical Supervisor, Certified Cyber Therapist, Reflective Coach and a fellow Master in Black Issues and the Challenge of Racism in Therapeutic and Training Contexts. I am passionate about helping practitioners talk about race both inside and outside their therapy room, supporting them to explore their unconscious bias so that they can become more compassionate practitioners in a way that supports positive and lasting change. 

My interest stems from my own experience of finding my voice as a woman of colour in a predominately non-black society. I am on a mission to make the therapeutic space safe enough for dialogues about race and racism, where necessary. I view a world, where ALL practitioners, regardless of race, are well equipped to work with their Black clients and not shy away from having powerful transformational conversations, because of their own inner dialogue.

Shortly after giving birth to my son in August 2019, I can remember feeling a wave of fear taking over me. I was totally in love with this little person but through all the joy this cloud of fear was still looming. I didn’t feel this way when I had my daughter. This feeling was new. Fast forward to May 2020 and the killing of George Floyd, and the uprise of the Black Lives Matter movement. My fear now had a face and a voice!

I’ve since been on a journey of self discovery, which has been challenging. I have lost friendships along the way which has been sad, but from this, I have been able to reflect and have taken the steps towards the change I want to see in society. Subsequently, I have found myself surrounded by like-minded individuals, a community. Together we are and will continue to create change and learn more about ourselves and each other.

My desire to support people and inspire them to free their minds and open their hearts motivated me to become the founder of Awakening Our Roots.