A virtual event today is expected to help women see the value in themselves and boost their spiritual wellbeing.

Kristin Justice, who is based in the US, will speak at the free workshop, which will be hosted by the Women’s Resource Centre in partnership with the Bermuda Annual Conference AME Women in Ministry group.

She said: “Similar to the support I offer as a therapist, as a mental health facilitator my hope is that the participants of the Mastering the Art of Self Love and Knowing Your Worth event will leave feeling empowered and encouraged to invest in themselves, their mental and emotional wellness and see the value in choosing to love themselves in a richer way.

“During the workshop, we will explore what it really means to love ourselves even when we don’t always like ourselves or our ways.

“We will discuss tools on how we can show up for ourselves through meaningful self care, explore how our thoughts and emotions affect our mental health and our ability to love and value ourselves.

“I am a strong advocate for not only being physically and mentally well, but spiritually well also.”

Ms Justice, whose father, the Reverend John C Justice, was a pastor at Heard Chapel AME Church in Pembroke from 1989 to 1995, added: “In the workshop we will also address spiritual connections using biblical principles on how God cares about your mental health through his love.

“As a ‘PK’ – preacher’s kid – I am a big advocate of Jesus and therapy.”

Ms Justice, a licensed associate counsellor in New Jersey and a nationally certified counsellor in the US, said that she aimed to support clients “through the challenges of life”.

She added: “As someone who has worked in human resources for 11 years, educating, informing and guiding individuals on how they can choose to live and navigate a more fulfilling and meaningful life is a passion of mine.”

Ms Justice said: “I am undoubtedly grateful for being reared and raised in the rich history of Bermuda’s heritage and loved by some of the best people in the world.

“Many thanks to my amazing Zuill, Hassell, Darrell and Butterfield family who I loved visiting annually and have missed dearly due to this pandemic.”

Tina Laws, the WRC executive director, said that coping with “the unknown” over the past two years with the Covid-19 pandemic has been very difficult.

She added: “Families have faced unexpected death, deterioration of health, loss of jobs, homes, relationships and finances like never before.

“Partnering with Bermuda Annual Conference AME Women In Ministry couldn’t have come at a better time.

“In aligning with Women’s Resource Centre’s mission to enhance the lives of women and their families in Bermuda, WIM have partnered with us to help encourage our community.

“With vast professional backgrounds, social and personal experiences, WIM’s community of women have dedicated time to creating events such as Mastering the Art of Self Love and Knowing your Worth to help alleviate some of what we, as women, have experienced and are experiencing right now.“

Ms Laws thanked the people involved with Women In Ministry “for their vision and partnering with us to achieve our mission and vision for the community”.

* The free event will start on Zoom at 7pm. The meeting ID will be 857-1494-0723 with the password BdaWIM.