Narratives of Clinicians Navigating Black Women’s Trauma in Therapy

Abstract

This qualitative research study examines the narratives of clinicians who treat Black women with trauma to further curate ways to effectively treat Black women in therapy. This study reveals the importance of culturally-informed clinicians in the psychological field to provide effective mental healthcare for Black women to combat healthcare disparities. Data was collected by conducting five semi-structured interviews with clinicians who specialize in treating Black women with trauma. After collection, the data was analyzed using Atlas.ti and divided into three categories: psychosocial patterns, treatment strategies, and the therapeutic relationship. A major theme exemplified by the psychosocial patterns of clients is the Superwoman Schema. The overarching themes that exemplify the Superwoman Schema include the inability to acknowledge or express trauma, perfectionism, and lack of boundaries. The common themes found in narratives of clinicians regarding treatment strategies are CBT criticism, the effectivity of EMDR, the utility of mindfulness, and the power of the therapeutic relationship. These themes provide insight into beneficial tools used in therapy with Black women navigating trauma and potential challenges clinicians may face treating Black women with trauma. This study can provide suggested strategies to treat Black women in therapy to effectively acknowledge, process, and heal from trauma.