I was listening to the podcast "Therapy for Black Girls" by Dr. Joy Harden Bradford and came across an episode that addressed the issue, should black people see a black therapist? In an effort to add to this conversation, I'm going to share my own thoughts and perspective on the question at hand.
From my experience, the answer to this question is no; however, this "no" comes with a few qualifiers.
I'm able to answer no to this question because a therapist should be someone who is able to empathize with their client. A strong therapeutic alliance is necessary for the session to be helpful and a part of that alliance is the therapist's ability to empathize with their client to ensure their client feels heard and understood. Technically speaking, this can be undertaken by a therapist of any race. One does not need to be black to understand the struggles involved in being black.
With that being said, it is up to the therapist to acquire the necessary information to ensure they are truly understanding and addressing the needs of their black clients. Unfortunately, not all therapists are willing to do this. Often times, traditional therapy revolves around the client's childhood and their thoughts and feelings. I've been asked about my parents and childhood experiences, shared my thoughts, been prompted to reflect on certain experiences, but never once was my race explored (even with a black therapist!). It took me, self reflecting on my own, to figure that out for myself.
This is not to say that therapists are not helpful or that they ask the wrong questions. I bring this up because I believe it is imperative for therapists of ALL races to explore race with their black clients as, whether the client likes it or not, that is how society sees them and it is bound to affect their mental health in some way, even if it is not obvious at first.
So the final answer is no, black people do not need black therapist. It's possible that black therapist will understand the black experience more intimately, but that's not a guarantee. Instead, I think black people would benefit from seeking out a therapist who is knowledgeable on what it is like to be black in America and is willing to explore race just as eagerly as they are to explore their client's thoughts, feelings and past experiences.
