Antiguan-born Psychotherapist and Former UN Official Offers Free Therapy Sessions

In light of the urgent need to support persons, families and communities affected by a series of complex and traumatic life experiences, former United Nations (UN) official and international psychotherapist Mr. Jamion Knight is offering free trauma recovery and psychotherapy sessions to Antiguans and Barbudans.

This support is being provided through the Mental Fitness Centre initiative which was recently launched by Mr. Knight, a British-trained psychotherapist and trauma recovery coach who was born and raised in English Harbour.

“There are many people who are finding it difficult to sleep and concentrate properly due to life challenges such as cancer, negative childhood experiences, nightmares and unwanted sexual experiences. Some are suffering in silence as they are unable to get help due to a lack of funds. I want to help them smile and laugh again.

I want to help them fulfil their potential. Therefore, I will be spending 2025 volunteering my services to those who need help,” said Mr. Knight.

“From my experience working on mental health issues in different parts of the world, I have noted that people are becoming more open to speaking with mental health professionals about the challenges that they face.

This means that there is increasing demand for support. However, in addition to the financial challenges, there are other factors preventing them from getting support such as the inability to get appointments at night and on the weekends.

The Mental Fitness Centre will be responding to this reality by offering flexible appointment options,” Mr. Knight emphasized.

The support being offered by the Mental Fitness Centre will be provided online and through face-to-face sessions to persons living in Antigua and Barbuda, Kenya, Rwanda, Costa Rica, Syria and Sierra Leone. Each person supported by the Centre can receive up to 5 sessions, following a 30-minute telephone evaluation.

Once the sessions are completed, the Centre will collaborate with them to develop a personal development plan.

This support is one of the pillars of the International Mental Fitness Initiative which has been launched by Mr. Knight, and which is focused on building resilient communities across the world in the face of climate change, conflict and humanitarian crises.

Mr. Knight, a former island scholar, has worked alongside cancer survivors through the Macmillan Cancer Support, one of the largest cancer charities in the world.

He has received training in a wide range of areas such as Prolonged Exposure Therapy (PET), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for insomnia and suicide prevention, mental health in complex emergencies, and working with male victims of sexual violence.

He is registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and received a MSc in Mental Health and Psychological Therapies from Queen Mary University of London and a MSc in Counselling and Psychotherapy from Keele University in the UK.

In addition, he has a MA in Diplomacy, International Law and International Economics from SOAS, University of London, and a Diploma in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from the Alberto Hurtado University in Chile. 

He is fluent in Spanish and spent more than 10 years working with the United Nations. As head of the Communication and Information Sector of the UNESCO Regional Office for Central America, Colombia and Mexico, he implemented a series of mental health initiatives including the Central American Network of Psychological First Aid Volunteers, and the Support Group for Journalists.

He also conceptualized and organized the Global Conference on the Mental Health and Security of Refugee Journalists.

In addition to the foregoing, he launched the Working Group on the Resilience and Integrated Security of Refugee Journalists which brought together over two dozen local, regional and international entities including other UN agencies and NGOs.