Work

(Re)humanizing Blackness: Integrating BlackCrit in the Mental Health Counseling of Black Clients

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Does Black mental health matter? Historically, mental illness in the Black community has been inadequately addressed. Yet Black Americans experience more severe psychological distress than other races, and they are also more likely to experience poor outcomes in counseling. When considering the dehumanizing impact of racism on the mental health of Black Americans, Black critical theory (BlackCrit) is presented as a useful and scarcely utilized exploratory lens. The author provides a brief history of Black mental health, followed by an explanation of the need for and benefits of utilizing this theory to center Blackness when counseling Black clients. Implications for theoretical integration in clinical practice to (re)humanize Blackness in counseling are provided.

Source: The Journal of Humanistic Counseling

DOI: 10.1002/johc.70034

Author: Demetrius Cofield

Institution: The Ohio State University

Language: English

Topic: Counseling Practices and Supervision

Subfield: Social Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,900