Date

6-16-2025

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Catherine Packer-Williams

Keywords

Strong Black Woman schema, African American women, help-seeking, cultural competence, mental health disparities

Disciplines

Counseling

Abstract

African American women underutilize mental health services despite experiencing high rates of psychological distress. Existing literature has not fully explored how the Strong Black Woman (SBW) schema influences this behavior. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to understand how the lived experiences of African American women positively influenced or impeded their help-seeking behaviors to address mental health problems through the lens of African American women mental health clinicians via Zoom Video Communications. This study addressed the gap in research on how cultural norms, systemic barriers, and therapeutic strategies shape access to care for this population.

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 10 licensed African American female clinicians. Data were analyzed using Glaser and Strauss’s Constant Comparative Method and phenomenological reduction. Four major themes emerged: the influence of cultural expectations of strength, the impact of systemic mistrust and medical dismissal, the role of faith and family in shaping support systems, and the importance of culturally responsive therapeutic strategies. Findings suggested that the SBW schema, along with racial and gender-based discrimination, contributed to delayed or avoided mental health care. Clinicians emphasized the need for culturally competent, identity-affirming interventions. These results have implications for mental health practitioners, training programs, and policymakers seeking to reduce disparities and improve therapeutic engagement among African American women.

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