This post and associated study is being shared with permission from CounselingPsychology.org.
The demand for mental health support from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) therapists is driven by their unique ability to provide a shared cultural experience and understanding. However, there is a significant shortage of such therapists.
The majority of therapists (73%) are white, while only 11% are Asian, 8% are Hispanic or Latino, 4% are Black or African American, and just 0.4% are American Indian or Alaska Native. This disparity is stark when compared to U.S. population demographics, where Hispanic and Latino Americans make up 18.9% and Black Americans 12.6%.
CounselingPsychology analyzed Psychology Today’s therapist directory to identify where BIPOC therapists are most scarce relative to the BIPOC community size. This analysis included Black and African American, Hispanic and Latino, Asian, and Native American therapists.
Becoming a mental health professional is a viable way to address these disparities. CounselingPsychology.org provides resources for those interested in becoming counselors, psychologists, or therapists, contributing to bridging the gap in mental health services for BIPOC communities.
Key Findings
- In the 45 largest U.S. cities, the ratio of white persons to white therapists (307:1) is more than three times better than that of BIPOC persons to BIPOC therapists (1,002:1).
- Cities where BIPOC communities are most underserved include El Paso, Memphis, Milwaukee, Phoenix, and Fresno.
- Cities with the most BIPOC therapists for BIPOC residents are Atlanta, Raleigh, Seattle, Oakland, and Miami.
How CounselingPsychology Measured the Availability of BIPOC Therapists
CounselingPsychology examined Psychology Today’s therapist directory for 45 major U.S. cities and compared the number of therapists of each ethnicity to their respective populations using U.S. Census Bureau data. Lower ratios indicate better availability.
Community to Therapist Ratios per Ethnicity
- Native Americans have the best community-to-therapist ratio (125:1).
- Hispanic and Latino communities have the least favorable ratio (1,214:1).
Cities Where BIPOC Therapists Best Support Residents
- Top cities for BIPOC mental health support: Atlanta (220:1), Raleigh (268:1), Seattle (298:1), Oakland (306:1), and Miami (314:1).
- San Francisco is best for the Black and African American community (114:1).
- Atlanta best supports Hispanic and Latino communities (119:1).
- Miami tops for Asian (85:1) and Native American (11:1) communities.
Cities Where Therapists Underserve BIPOC Communities
- El Paso (3,070:1), Memphis (2,690:1), Milwaukee (2,340:1), Phoenix (2,027:1), and Fresno (1,793:1) are the most underserved.
- In El Paso, the BIPOC ratio is more than three times the overall average (1,002:1).
- Memphis is the worst for Black and African American support (2,713:1), and El Paso for Hispanic and Latino support (4,026:1).
Cities with the Most Access to Bilingual and Multilingual Therapists
- Least supported cities: Kansas City, Houston, Memphis, Oklahoma City, and Phoenix.
- Best cities: Atlanta (387:1), Miami (416:1), and Tampa (522:1).
Conclusion
CounselingPsychology’s analysis highlights a significant disparity in mental health support for BIPOC and multilingual communities in the U.S. Addressing this issue is crucial for creating an inclusive mental health landscape.
Resources for BIPOC Therapists
Several organizations support BIPOC mental health professionals, including Mental Health Liberation, Black Mental Wellness, BEAM, and others. These organizations offer resources such as therapy funds, mentorship programs, training, and networking opportunities.
Mental Health Liberation, empowered by the Inclusive Therapists community, supports minoritized mental health by connecting BIPOC individuals with therapists of color, empowering future Clinicians of Color, dismantling systemic barriers, and reclaiming the healing process. They offer BIPOC therapy funds, student support for Students of Color pursuing mental health careers, and clinical supervision opportunities for Therapists of Color.
Black Mental Wellness aims to increase diversity among mental health professionals, provide access to evidence-based resources from a Black perspective, and reduce stigma around mental health in the Black community. They offer conferences, trainings, a Mentor program, and an Ambassador program to enhance access and learning within the Black therapeutic community.
Black Emotional and Mental Health Collective
BEAM focuses on community and peer support through training, community events, peer support networks, and grants to enhance Black community wellness. They also offer a Black Virtual Wellness Directory, providing access to Virtual Black Therapists.
The Black Mental Health Alliance
The Black Mental Health Alliance supports the health and well-being of Black people through culturally relevant training, forums, and referral services. They connect clinicians with patients and offer educational opportunities through various programs. They also support communities and families with school mental health services, after-school programs, and other initiatives.
California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
The California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists has a dedicated section for Black and Brown therapists, providing various therapeutic resources, websites, apps, and more.
Clinicians of Color, with over 12,000 members, connects patients to psychotherapists, social workers, psychologists, marriage and family therapists, and mental health counselors of color. They also offer a training academy approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider.
Inclusive Therapists connects culturally affirming therapists with patients in BIPOC and QTBIPOC communities. They focus on destigmatizing therapy, decolonizing therapeutic practices, dismantling white-supremacy, and providing culturally responsive care. They offer a blog, events, groups, professional training, books, and other resources.
Black Therapist and Company, founded by Dr. Rosemarie Hemmings, LCSW, CCTP-II, is a Black-owned therapeutic practice serving the BIPOC community. They provide Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) training, Employee Assistance Programs (EAP), and education for up-and-coming social workers.
National Association of Black Counselors
NABC is dedicated to advancing Black mental health through advocacy and membership. They offer education, events, a career board, a ‘find counselors’ tool, leadership opportunities, and a newsletter. Their advocacy work includes supporting African-American providers and creating opportunities for more people of African descent to enter the field.
Society of Indian Psychologists
The Society of Indian Psychologists is for Native American and Alaska Native professionals to join, attend events, contribute to publications, and mentor others entering the field. They address specific issues affecting Native American mental health, support American Indian psychology students, develop research methods, and facilitate professional exchange between practitioners and policymakers.
Methodology
In June 2023, CounselingPsychology analyzed data from PsychologyToday’s therapist directory and the U.S. Census Bureau to compare city populations of each race or ethnicity to the number of therapists in each city. CounselingPsychology focused on therapists who speak Spanish, Cantonese, and Mandarin, the three most common non-English languages in the U.S.