Offering a comprehensive list of professionals who provide “culturally competent” care, the Black Therapist List is a resource for Black Canadians looking to care for their mental health.
“This is such an important resource because oftentimes there is an underrepresentation of Black Therapists and they can be hard to find for those who are seeking them,” Laurenne Samuel, founder of Black Therapist List, told Now Toronto.
A 2018 study published by the Canadian Journal of Psychiatry found that 38.3 per cent of Black Canadian residents who reported having poor or fair mental health accessed mental health care, compared to 50.8 per cent of their white counterparts.
The Mental Health Commission of Canada (MHCC) reports that a study of 328 Black Canadians in 2018 found that 60 per cent of respondents said they would be more willing to reach out for mental health care if the provider were Black. Meanwhile, 95.1 per cent said that they believed that the underuse of mental health resources by Black Canadians was an issue that needed to be addressed.
The Black Therapist List works to do just that, featuring approximately 120 therapists and mental health professionals who identify as Black and are based in Canada. Samuel shared that they are always looking for new additions.
Users can search the list by location, specialties, languages spoken by doctors, and insurance coverage. Samuel shared that in 2023, they saw 2,599 inquiries emailed to their therapists.
The Black Therapists List is frequently updated with new therapists and resources, ensuring it stays comprehensive. It also includes information about mental health, cultural competence in therapy, and the lived experiences of Black people accessing health care.
“We need to prioritize the mental health of Black individuals, and this directory is a step towards addressing the disparities in access to mental health services,” Samuel said.
The MHCC reports that Black Canadian communities often face barriers to accessing mental health care including stigma, financial constraints, systemic inequity, mental health literacy and awareness, lack of representation, myths and misconceptions.
“For Black people there is still a stigma around therapy and there are issues of mistrust with the medical field,” Samuel explained. “Having the ability as a Black person to go to one place and easily find a Black therapist in their area gives them more of a chance of making that already difficult step to getting support for their mental health.”
Samuel explained that the list was created to help Black Canadians find professionals who can provide empathetic mental health care, without having to worry about the effects of both implicit and explicit racism.
“Culturally competent care is crucial because it fosters trust, communication, and a better understanding of the clients’ unique experiences, leading to more effective and relevant mental health support,” Samuel said.
“Evidence shows that when a client feels heard, understood and seen they tend to also have better therapeutic outcomes and better overall care.”
Samuel explained that as a former therapist, she has witnessed how Black clients often look for therapists who share their cultural background, hoping to find a space where they can be vulnerable and feel understood.
“It’s about providing effective and relevant mental health support tailored to individual needs.”