Member-only story
MINORITY MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS MONTH
Why Black People Need JEDI Therapists
Exploring cultural competency in mental health care
I’m a doctoral psychology student, and I attended a Diversity and Inclusion Webinar a few weeks ago. As a Black woman, I wanted to know what my university intended to do about inequities.
The head of our psychology department described our responsibility to our clients this way: “We have a responsibility to become culturally competent — to be a JEDI.” That piqued my interest. To keep it real, I expected him to give some colorblind speech, one that turned the other cheek. However, what I learned really inspired me. Leadership in the field of psychology threw both-siderism in the trash and instead picked up lightsabers.
JEDI stands for justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Black people often have negative experiences when seeking mental health care. However, it’s time to ask the question. Is your therapist a JEDI? Because if they instead rely on colorblind, one-sized-fits-all treatment, they are most likely doing more harm than good.
Treating Black patients requires acknowledging and understanding how white supremacy impacts their day-to-day lives.
