Why there's so few black psychologists?

[Poitier]

Do you wanna have a discussion or do you wanna post context-less smilies?

You've clearly displayed your idiocy .

 

[Crakface]

Because people like this are raising Black children....so to speak



Black people are conservative for the most part and conservative people reject ideas they are uncomfortable with. Psychology suggests sexuality is fluid, so the "Gays are an abomination crowd" reject it. Psychology suggests that Depressed people can't simply get over it, so the "overly macho crowd" dismisses it. Etc. etc.


"They" won't "approve" a lot of psychologists who have Pro-Black views? What does that even mean? If a Pro-Black person gets a psychology degree, then that's that.

The White supremacy aspects can be combated by psychologists who don't conform to it.

There are internships involved with practicing psychologists who are going for doctorates where they are under an elder to earn credits needed to show experience in the field. Alot of people quit. Many people that come in with revolutionary ideas of diagnosis and practice are weeded out. To be a pro black psych is revolutionary on itself because by default you will reject many lauded theories made by established white psychs. Your internships can get sabotaged if you let the cat out the bag you hold pro black views and bring theories from that ideology to a cac dominated field
.
Now let's say you get past that and get your experience n ur ready to practice n get a contract to work with prison inmates or black children. You will have a white overseer somewhere watching you and if you bring certain views and ways of practice to these groups you can be pushed out of these positions and float from job to job and sent into private practice where you will ultimately get less done for black people.

White supremacy dominates all aspects of American life

 

[Larry Lobster]

Friend of mine told me she was having trouble adjusting to her black psychologist at first because her white psych would just give her mess and her black psych actually wanted to talk about her problems and address them without meds.


She wanted pills but is now happier she talked it out.

She's still crazy as cat shyt though but I love her.

White psychologists are a joke. They can't help because they just don't understand the mind of a black person. Just give them some pills and it will be ok.

 

[ShaneTheRogue]

There are internships involved with practicing psychologists who are going for doctorates where they are under an elder to earn credits needed to show experience in the field. Alot of people quit. Many people that come in with revolutionary ideas of diagnosis and practice are weeded out. To be a pro black psych is revolutionary on itself because by default you will reject many lauded theories made by established white psychs. Your internships can get sabotaged if you let the cat out the bag you hold pro black views and bring theories from that ideology to a cac dominated field
.
Now let's say you get past that and get your experience n ur ready to practice n get a contract to work with prison inmates or black children. You will have a white overseer somewhere watching you and if you bring certain views and ways of practice to these groups you can be pushed out of these positions and float from job to job and sent into private practice where you will ultimately get less done for black people.

White supremacy dominates all aspects of American life

So Black people shouldn't try?

 

[Crakface]

White psychologists are a joke. They can't help because they just don't understand the mind of a black person. Just give them some pills and it will be ok.

Their understanding is the black mind can't be treated with pills because its......inherently

 

[Crakface]

So Black people shouldn't try?

They should try but we need alot to ultimately become independent.

Imagine a black psych talking about the effects of white supremacy during a session to a whitE patient. Cac gonna be looking like I didn't pay to hear this whining


We have a completely different way of looking at the world and life so there need to be tons of black psychs not tokens

 

[Dafunkdoc_Unlimited]

Well that is the problem with the community; the blind leading the blind. So the mentally ill is leading the mentally ill.

From the Article:​

Akbar concludes that the creation of an African American definition of normalcy is necessary, and until such a definition is formed, African Americans remain subjects to the power and authority of the dominant community.

From this thread.....

http://www.thecoli.com/threads/the-battle-to-define-mental-illness.68103/

I don't think defining 'mental illness' is the problem.

Defining 'normal' is.

​

 

[*L*E*G*A*C*Y*]

@Money Mase your input to this convo is dead on.

I really wish more black people in America would lead the discussion on mental health in the community. I'm just thoroughly saddened by the lack of acknowledgment there is towards these issues amongst black folks in this society.

The case in point: "Normal" doesn't exist. What does exist is this idea of "normal" and "normalcy" is a construct created by and for white society en masse. By this definition...black people aren't "normal" aren't the "norm" and live in a society where they are stigmatized for it 24/7/365.

There are many things that white people do and say that are just shrugged off and aren't even seen as "abnormal" at all. Whereas (from my observations from interacting with people on this board, please don't condemn me for this), but then again, being at the good end of double standards is one of the many things white privilege offers white people in regards to mental health. Black people don't even have this.

From what I've observed...it's like the moment you reveal yourself as a black person to be against the "norm" of what is acceptable in the black community in America (if you don't listen to rap/r&b primarily, if you do things like skateboarding...or anything black people see as "whitewashed" or "trying to act white"), it's the moment where you're seen as an minority within a minority. Or just carry yourself a different way as a black person...or dress different...or do anything that goes against the common MO of black American society en masse. Not everyone is going to be the same and the world would be boring that way. I feel sometimes that true acts and expression of individuality and being reactionary are seen as "abnormal" in the black community. Whereas the facets that comprise the basic elements of blackness and just being black is seen as "abnormal" to the dominant society.

I say this as someone who went through that system themselves, so best believe I have somewhat of an understanding of mental health..not as much as those who actually make their living in this field (thanks to all of the black psychs and mental health people who have chimed in this thread), but I have tried to understand myself as well as the world around me in this guard considering a black person of my background on this board has felt like an anomaly.

I've been depressed and blamed for my own situations and told to "get over it" like it's a cold. I've tried to express myself in the best ways possible and just show my personality in the most genuine manner on here and told to "seek therapy" "seek professional help" and have been called "untable". Seriously, from that...knowing that other black people are calling me this when I consider who I am in real life as the polar opposite of "unstable" makes me wanna laugh andcry at the same time...we really don't get it collectively and the result of us living in a society where being black in it is the cause for many qualms that can manifest themselves in a negative state just cause is an atmosphere where we're just afraid to even admit to our faults or try to get help for them for the fear of being seen as weak.

Especially when I hear things like suicide is for mentally disturbed people...there are plenty of people I've heard and read about that were seemingly fine to their peers and associates that decided to commit suicide.

The truth is the nature of mental health in regards to the complexity of human beings and the human condition will always lead to the oversimplification of those complexities.

There really need to be more black specialists and people willing to speak on our behalf and help us to make sure our mental condition isn't ignored by the masses.

 

[*L*E*G*A*C*Y*]

White psychologists are a joke. They can't help because they just don't understand the mind of a black person. Just give them some pills and it will be ok.

That's why I laugh over the years when I've had people tell me to "go seek professional help". LOL. When I think of mentally unstable I think of men rambling gibberish sleeping in carboard boxes underneath the Williamsburg Bridge throwing their own feces at a wall.

Like I'm really going to waste an exorbitant amount of money every week to talk to someone who 1)could care less about my problems 2) can't relate to me or the nature of where my problems might extend from cause they aren't black 3)will probably have no problem using the information I provided to them against me when the situation calls for it.

They'll just give you some pills with some horrific side effects (weight gain, blemishes, vomiting, etc)and call it a day.

I remember when I spent 8 days in a Western Psych ward for depression. The majority of the people in that ward were black...

"But..but...but....depression and mental health is for white people..."

 

[Larry Lobster]

That's why I laugh over the years when I've had people tell me to "go seek professional help". LOL. When I think of mentally unstable I think of men rambling gibberish sleeping in carboard boxes underneath the Williamsburg Bridge throwing their own feces at a wall.

Like I'm really going to waste an exorbitant amount of money every week to talk to someone who 1)could care less about my problems 2) can't relate to me or the nature of where my problems might extend from cause they aren't black 3)will probably have no problem using the information I provided to them against me when the situation calls for it.

They'll just give you some pills with some horrific side effects (weight gain, blemishes, vomiting, etc)and call it a day.

I remember when I spent 8 days in a Western Psych ward for depression. The majority of the people in that ward were black...

"But..but...but....depression and mental health is for white people..."

Have you ever tried looking for black psychologists?

 

[wild100sboy]

Don't have too much to say yet, but good dialogue in here fellas

 

[*L*E*G*A*C*Y*]

Have you ever tried looking for black psychologists?

when i was living in pittsburgh...i only found 1 out of almost 100.

i don't need that anyways. i've been through much worse in my life.

 

[Larry Lobster]

i don't need that anyways. i've been through much worse in my life.

No diss but judging by some of your posts you clearly need help, just talk idk.

 

[*L*E*G*A*C*Y*]

No diss but judging by some of your posts you clearly need help, just talk idk.

LOL. No. I don't. Just cause i choose to express myself differently is no needto be stigmatized as "mentally unstable" or "needing professional help" as if they can't take care of themselves. That's implicitly disrespectful and could be co sidered n act of violence against one's character.

this thread is not about me btw...

 

[Daystew]

Do you deal with black pacients?

I have had a two black clients in three years. I work at a tx facility for women with substance abuse and mental health disorders. There's probably a 10:1 ratio of Caucasian to Black representation. The black clients I've had definitely sought to identify with me culturally first. To a degree I allow it, but in providing therapy...your job as a clinician is to be sensitive (empathetically) to all issues, including multicultural concerns, but not allow your sense of values invade the therapeutic environment.

In short, I identify with them, perhaps on a deeper level, but I try not to let it dictate my services.