By Adam Dirir
“Every day is a long day in what I do!” laughed Shamsa, who is a psychotherapist, singer and photographer. Although she originally planned to go into business, using her undergraduate degree, her passion lay in psychotherapy.
“I’m a good listener and I suffered deep depression after the civil war, but I was unable to talk about it. So I followed my urge and began studying psychotherapy and counselling.”
“I wanted to understand people’s emotional needs. This was very personal for me, as I lacked knowledge of my surroundings and I was very naïve when I came to Britain. It was a cold, alien culture with rigid social structures which took time to understand and appreciate.”
Somali women have many family commitments which occupy most of their time. Shamsa explained the challenges she faced. “Breaking into psychotherapy was difficult because very few people from ethnic minority backgrounds pursue it as a career; it’s usually associated with the middle class. However I was determined to succeed because people from different backgrounds should be represented in all professional fields.”
“When I was young I dreamed of establishing my own business on my Dad's farm, but the civil war tore everything apart. So many dreams were shattered. I had to refocus and build a new life and new dreams in a new country. It’s been hard and I’m still learning about myself. I often felt depressed but never felt I could talk about it. This is why I want people to understand the importance of psychotherapy.”
Shamsa is a dedicated song writer. “Singing helped me understand myself. It is my freedom of expression. I write and sing about what is important to me: the love of my family, the memories of my grandmother’s poetry, the places I visited as a child. It’s my personal therapy, allowing me to remember my past and understand who I am.”
Shamsa and her husband run a photography company called ‘Eye for Photo’. According to their website, “We aim for contemporary and relaxed styling and always try to capture the essence of the day, looking for those important and special moments that you will want to remember.” Shamsa has a great catalogue of pictures that show the beauty of Somali culture and Somali women’s heritage.
“I admire Somali women in general, and how they always seem to pick up the pieces. They have struggled as well as achieved. I would like to encourage Somali women to always look to the future and never look back.”
Shamsa lives in London where she is a psychotherapist and a singer.
