The importance of supporting woman's mental health
After spending the week at the Maya Centre, I can say that I will truly leave with a newfound sense of comfort that good still exists in the world. The women who tirelessly work here are humble, hardworking, relentless and all ooze the same ethos of essentially wanting the best for all women. From a variety of backgrounds, ages and experiences the Maya Centre truly highlights that it’s our differences that so amazingly allow us to support others and as well as learn ourselves. As part of winning person of the year at TEN10, I was fortunate enough to be given the week to spend here as well as being able to provide them with 5 sets of new therapy chairs in their counselling rooms.
The Maya Centre more like a woman's retreat is a beautiful charity working to support women's mental health, provide free counselling and support as well as raise awareness of neurodiversity and provide psychoeducation. In one year alone their therapists can see over 300 women from the Islington and neighbouring boroughs alone. Recovering expeditiously after the pandemic they now see 70% of their clients in person, providing psychodynamic therapy as well as complementary therapies and overall wellbeing support. Growing in size and impact they now seek to support women within the community with their newly created ‘Women’s hub’ team who work to provide events, wellbeing sessions, workshops and support groups for women who may not specifically need counselling and as a bridge from completing it. What truly sets them apart from any other charity is how they so seamlessly mould the women to become more confident, lead and adjust, they support and uplift them to truly provide what they need, not what they want for them. Several women have spoken to me this week about how they truly feel seen from speaking to Women’s hub manager Tiffanie to one of their therapists they feel both appreciated and seen as equal. Further restating for me the true beauty here is that they know every woman goes through some type of hardship no matter their appearance, occupation, living circumstance and power.
On Monday I taught and assisted in their very first fitness and fun day alongside Ikran and Edna from their women's hub team. I watched the women smile and let go but also speak so highly of The Maya Centre. I then spoke with Stephanie and learned the true extent to which they are inundated with referrals and how many women need support. They see women from ages 18 to 60 plus, from every background you could think of. Providing from 12 to 24 weeks of therapy and more in most cases they seek to identify trauma, save women in difficult situations, open their eyes and ultimately help them find themselves and flourish again. On the back of this, it enabled them to have language-specific therapists allowing them to attend to the needs of so many more women effortlessly. The realities of it are truly astonishing and so impactful and for many women, therapy is something they couldn't even dream to spend their money on or even have the time to solely just talk about them.
On Wednesday I joined them in their walking group with Peony and Amber where we spoke about our experiences and felt refreshed and eased afterwards. I also took part in their relaxation techniques with Gemma, one of their complementary therapists which truly amazed me. As someone with ADHD I could have never imagined being able to sit and focus without interrupting thoughts, she taught skills allowing the woman with me to distress and find calmness. As the women’s hub team is going to hold a family and fun day in the community on my last day, I think I will leave The Maya Centre with the true belief that they should exist for every borough. Their work is truly changing the lives of the backbone of our society and our households. Women with their strength to face their demons and traumas, in most cases not having any idea of what will come of tomorrow but having hope essentially in The Maya Centre. As a young black woman watching this charity go on to celebrate 40 years in 2024, I hope that more places can seek to provide care, commitment and such impactful support as they do as they one conversation at a time make the world a better place. As I look at Clinical Director Melanie, Woman hub manager Tiffanie, Office and clinical systems manager Stephanie, and Finance Manager Mauva the core team who are admittedly unable to pull away from their jobs, as they essentially do such good, is something I truly aspire to have.
Please donate if you can to this amazing charity
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