CLEVELAND — For more than 15 years, licensed therapist Dr. Lugenia Small has been helping people get through life’s challenges. This past year, she turned her attention to helping African Americans specifically. 

What You Need To Know

  • Black therapists are underrepresented but in high demand across the country

  • One Cleveland-based organization is making sure those in need have access to therapists who look like them

  • According to the American Psychological Association, as of 2019, only 3% of the psychology workforce in the United States was Black

  • Black therapists say the disparity can impact quality of care and health outcomes 

“When I saw everything going on with Black Lives Matter, the dehumanization of my people, Black people, I knew it was a call of action to action for myself. And so I started researching ways that I could help and came across the Black Mental Health Corporation,” Small said. 

The Black Mental Health Corporation is a Cleveland-based organization that partners with Black clinicians to serve African Americans in need of mental health services. 

Small, who has seen an influx of African Americans seeking her services, said there aren’t enough Black therapists to meet the demand. As of 2019, only 3% of the psychology workforce in the United States were Black, according to the American Psychological Association.

Small said the disparity impacts quality of care and health outcomes.

“Black people are more often diagnosed with schizophrenia than with a mood disorder when compared to their white counterparts with the same exact symptoms. And out of all the races, Black people with mental health challenges are the most highly to be in prison because of it,” Small said. 

Black Mental Health Corporation patient Shirley Bevel said she spent a lot of time looking for the right therapist.

“Everybody that was available for counseling, that I saw, none of them looked like me, and that's important,” Bevel said. 

Bevel is able to connect with her therapist in many ways, including virtually. It’s something that Small said helps bridge the access gap. 

“I log into my HIPPA compliant tele-therapy platform. My clients have my direct link and we log in and we're able to have therapy just like that,” Small said. 

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