The Intersectionality of Black Women of Faith in Counseling
Conference Strand
Practice, Strategies, Techniques, and Interventions
Abstract
Black women of faith are often viewed as having little faith when seeking secular help outside their spiritual or religious communities for psychological symptoms. These women experience emotional and spiritual trauma exacerbating mental health symptoms. Evidence-based practices counselor can utilize to support Black women of faith are identified.
Evidence
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Avent Harris, J. R. (2019). The black superwoman in spiritual bypass: Black women’s use of religious coping and implications for mental health professionals. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 23(2), 180–196. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2019.1685925
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Bartholomew, M. W., Harris, A. N., & Maglalang, D. D. (2018). A call to healing: Black Lives Matter movement as a framework for addressing the health and wellness of Black women. Community Psychology in Global Perspective, 4(2), 85–100. https://doi.org/10.1285/i24212113v4i2p85
Bloom, S. L., & Farragher, B. J. (2013). Restoring sanctuary: A new operating system for trauma-informed systems of care. Oxford University Press.
Bonelli, R. M., & Koenig, H. G. (2013). Mental disorders, religion and spirituality 1990 to 2010: A systematic evidence-based review. Journal of Religion and Health, 52(2), 657–673. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-013-9691-4
Chandler, L. (2020, July 2). What is intersectionality, and what does it have to do with me? YW Boston. Retrieved April 20, 2023, from https://www.ywboston.org/2017/03/what-is-intersectionality-and-what-does-it-have-to-do-with-me/#:~:text=Intersectionality%20recognizes%20that%20identity%20markers,a%20white%20man's%20dollar%2C%20respectively.
Cox, K. & Diamant, J. (2018). Black men are less religious than black women, but more religious than white women and men. United States of America. Retrieved from https://policycommons.net/artifacts/617133/black-men-are-less-religious-than-black-women-but-more-religious-than-white-women-and-men/1597886/
Glenn, C. B. (2015). A bridge over troubled waters: Spirituality and resilience with emerging adult childhood trauma survivors. Journal of Spirituality in Mental Health, 16(1), 37–50. https://doi.org/10.1080/19349637.2014.864543
Harper, K., Bohecker, L., Lewis, T., Lee, M., Edwards, N. N., Celoria, W., & Moore, D. (2023). Identifying Systemic Factors when Counseling Black Women of Christian Faith in the USA. Journal of Religion and Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-023-01824-5
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Pargament, K. I. (2011). Religion and coping: The current state of knowledge. In S. Folkman (Ed.), The Oxford handbook of stress, health, and coping (pp. 269–288). Oxford University Press.
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Format
Individual Presentations
Biographical Sketch
Keyona Harper, MACM, LPC, NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Ohio, a National Board- Certified Counselor, a Mental Health Youth First Aid instructor, and she operates a private practice. Keyona is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the Counselor Education and Supervision program at Liberty University. Her research interests include education, spirituality, and Black women and children.
A Philadelphia native, Tamika Lewis, MA, LPCA, NCC is a former Army veteran and military spouse. She earned both her Bachelors in Psychology and Masters in Professional Counseling degrees from Liberty University. Tamika is continuing her educational journey at Liberty, pursuing her Doctorate in Counseling Education and Supervision. She is extremely passionate about mental health, specifically regarding mental health in the Black community. Tamika hopes to use her platform to address systemic factors contributing to mental illness and advocate for resources to address them.
Nivischi Edwards, PhD, LMHC, LPC, NCC, BC-TMH received her Doctorate in Counselor Education from the University of Central Florida. She believes true accomplishment is love; unconditional love for God, self, and others. She operates a virtual practice, teaches counseling at Liberty University, and is passionate about healthy relationship. Learn more here: https://drnivischi.com
Start Date
3-8-2024 12:35 PM
Recommended Citation
Harper, Keyona MACM, LPC, NCC; Lewis, Tamika MA, LPCA, NCC; and Edwards, Nivischi, "The Intersectionality of Black Women of Faith in Counseling" (2024). National Cross-Cultural Counseling and Education Conference for Research, Action, and Change. 24.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/ccec/2024/2024/24
The Intersectionality of Black Women of Faith in Counseling
Black women of faith are often viewed as having little faith when seeking secular help outside their spiritual or religious communities for psychological symptoms. These women experience emotional and spiritual trauma exacerbating mental health symptoms. Evidence-based practices counselor can utilize to support Black women of faith are identified.
Description
Black women, like many others, turn to their spiritual and religious communities for support when in need (Pargament, 2011). Involvement in such communities is positively related to mental and physical health (Koenig, 2009, 2015). However, for Black women of faith (BWOF), seeking mental health services is often seen negatively. Black women of faith who seek secular help can be ostracized within non-supportive spiritual and religious communities as not having strong enough or not having faith. This perception of lacking faith can lead to a struggle for BWOF to establish a therapeutic alliance within the therapeutic relationship. This topic focuses on race, gender, systemic factors, and spiritual and religious communities and their connectedness to the mental health of BWOF. At the same time, developing counselor awareness of these intersectionalities when counseling BWOF creates a safe and trusting therapeutic environment where BWOF can talk authentically about their experiences. Evidence-based practices are identified for counselors in broaching intersectionality of BWOF in counseling for a positive holistic therapeutic experience. Additionally, a case study is shared about an appropriate way to support a BWOF.
Learning Outcomes: