Mr Lekan Ojo-Okiji Abasi

Clinical Co-ordinator

HPD in Counselling, NCS Accredited, Member EMDR All-Ireland

​

As a Community development worker for over 20 years in greater Belfast area, I am a Bilingual Professional Counsellor, founding member and Clinical Co-ordinator of Counselling All Nations Services (CANS). I genuinely care about the welfare and wellbeing of people, and as part of my role, I want to support people to make a difference to their lives and wellbeing at every opportunity, particularly in relation to issues of diversity and equality of opportunity. I have over 8 years’ experience of delivering Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing Talking Therapies service supporting people from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) communities in NI dealing with emotional wellbeing issues, and in some cases suicidal ideation. I have significant experience of working with people providing bilingual one-to-one therapeutic talking therapies support, exploring issues that might be causing them psychological / emotional problems or difficulties. With additional skillset of working with Community Mental Health Trained Interpreter.

​

My clinical area of expertise are: Addiction; Anger Management; Anxiety & Stress; Bereavement & Loss; Depression; Interpersonal or Relationship difficulties; Self Esteem; Self Harm; Suicide; and Trauma.

Mrs Jurita Naumane

Deputy Clinical Co-ordinator

Over the last 10 years of my therapeutic practice, I started by volunteering, then working in different counselling and therapeutic settings in Northern Ireland such as: Cruse Bereavement Care, Contact NI / Lifeline and Counselling All Nations Services (CANS).

 In CANS I have received unique training in counselling through the medium of interpreters and EMDR training, which is powerful therapeutic approach that helps people affected by trauma. As a bilingual Practitioner (Latvian, Russian) I do offer native language psychological therapies.

 CANS created an opportunity for me to progress from a Volunteer Sessional Counsellor (2014) to the full time paid staff member.

 In my current position with CANS, I am privileged to continue broadening my experience of working with clients from diverse backgrounds, cultures, languages, and presented issues alongside with supporting CANS management with their organisational and clinical co-ordinating needs.

 My professional Membership: Graduate Member with BPsS. Professional Accredited Member with NCPS; Member with BACP and EMDR All-Ireland.