Mark Williams

Mark Williams is a Senior Lecturer in Social Work with Leeds Beckett University since 2004. He has extensive experience in mental health social work practice and worked in both statutory and third sector mental health provision, prior to joining the university, including having the privilege to be involved in the development and launch of the first Assertive Outreach provision in Leeds (in 2000), and earlier the development of a multicultural mental health community resource (in 1998).

As a British African Caribbean man Mark has a particular interest in the lived experiences of Black and Global Majority (BGM) communities living in the UK. His interests has led him to become involved in the development and delivery of mental health services targeted towards the needs of BGM groups which has now extended to concerns about the diversity and inclusion of BGM individuals in higher education.

In recent years Mark has been interested in the use of Psychodynamic Perspectives as andragogical and heutagogical approaches to training and education. He has completed masters degree with Tavistock and Portman with a focus on transcultural psychodynamic psychotherapy, and previously Mark undertook masters training in Freudian psychoanalytic studies which he uses in his delivery of anti-racist training, and training on diversity and inclusivity.

His recent research interests centre on the investigation of the racialised experiences of BGM students in professional practice learning settings and the impact of racial trauma on education outcomes for people from BGM communities; a theme that is certainly in keeping with Mark’s contribution the Black Identities + White Therapies publication, and a reflection of much of the work Mark has been committed to thus far.