Empowering Approach

Centuries of dismissive and unfair behavior have led African American women to develop a lack of faith in the mental health care profession, especially when working with providers of different racial backgrounds. African American women have expressed that they do not connect to providers whom they believe do not understand their life experiences or the ways they respond to the world around them. A more informed resource for providers, from a womanist strength-based therapeutic perspective, may strengthen the rapport between providers and survivors. By embracing a womanist, strength-based therapeutic perspective, mental healthcare professionals can help African American women break through a history of oppression and stigmas regarding receiving care.