Date

9-17-2026

Department

School of Behavioral Sciences

Degree

Doctor of Education in Community Care and Counseling (EdD)

Chair

Tracy N. Baker

Keywords

Black female mental health therapists, self-care, mental health resilience, therapist wellness, Strong Black Woman Schema, emotional labor, intersectionality, workplace stress, spirituality, qualitative phenomenology

Disciplines

Counseling | Psychology

Abstract

Black women who serve as mental health therapists often carry a unique and invisible load, borne from caring deeply for their clients while also navigating the daily realities of race and gender bias, both inside and outside of their profession. In that context, this study examines how Black female therapists working in clinical practice care for themselves and stay emotionally resilient in the face of these challenges. It adopts a qualitative, phenomenological approach, and is grounded in intersectionality and Black feminist thought, with the goal of elevating the personal stories and lived experiences of 10 participants. Their reflections offer a deep understanding of self-care, undertaken not as indulgence but as an intentional, necessary practice for survival. Consistent commonalities among participants are their spiritual grounding, firm boundaries, cultural pride, supportive communities, and carving out space for rest. The evidence signals practical steps that can be taken for the counseling profession to better support marginalized therapists through training, supervision, and institutional policies that affirm their well-being. By outlining those steps, this work contributes to a growing call for equity-driven change in mental healthcare, not only for those who receive it but also for those who provide such care.

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