Soul work: Black practitioners’ perceptions of Black clients’ mental health needs

Abstract

Most empirical investigations with Black clients have focused on the multicultural competence of practitioners who work with them. Little attention has been given to the needs of Black clients. This phenomenological inquiry explored Black practitioners’ perceptions of Black clients’ mental health needs and identified five common themes: (a) mental health literacy, (b) family and parenting counseling, (c) advocacy, (d) trauma and grief work, and (e) self-efficacy enhancement. Implications for counseling and future research are discussed.