Psychotherapy With Black and African American Clients

In Psychotherapy With Black and African American Clients, Dr. Erlanger Turner discusses clinical work with this population of clients and demonstrates his therapeutic approach in a teletherapy session. Disparities between the United States population generally and the Black and African American community in particular show up not only economically and socially, but also in the area of mental health. Although rates of mental illness are similar to the White population, African American and Black men and women are less likely to engage in psychotherapy. This lower rate of receiving mental healthcare seems even more stark in the light of the trauma of violence, poverty, and racial bias and prejudice endured by this population.

In this video program, Dr. Jessica M. Smedley, PsyD, interviews Dr. Turner about working with Black and African American clients, the diversity of the community, and the strengths supporting and challenges affecting the wellness of clients. Following the opening interview, Dr. Turner demonstrates his therapeutic work with an African American man who has been wrestling with depression as well as his sexuality. Finally, he and Dr. Smedley talk about key moments from the session.

This demonstration session features a client portrayed by actor on the basis of a composite of different cases.

Erlanger “Earl” Turner, PhD, is a licensed psychologist and owner of Turner Psychological & Consulting Services. Dr. Turner has over 15 years of experience as a licensed clinical psychologist working in urban communities and in academic medical centers providing therapy to children, adolescents, and adults. He is also an associate professor of psychology at Pepperdine University in the Graduate School of Education and Psychology where he directs the Race and Cultural Experiences (R.A.C.E) Research Lab. His research expertise includes mental health among racial and ethnic communities, access to behavioral health services, cultural competency, therapy use among parents, and the impact of race-based stress.

Dr. Turner is author of the book Mental Health among African American: Innovations in Research and Practice, and has served on the editorial board for the Journal of Black Psychology, Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, Practice Innovations, Psychological Services, Evidence-Based Practice in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and The Counseling Psychologist. He has also published chapters in the Handbook of Mental Health in African American Youth (2016), Encyclopedia of Personality and Individual Differences (2017), Eliminating Race-Based Mental Health Disparities: Promoting Equity and Culturally Responsive Care across Settings (2019), The Routledge International Encyclopedia of Sport and Exercise Psychology (2020), Critical Race Studies Across Disciplines: Resisting Racism through Scholactivism (2021), and Making Black Lives Matter: Confronting Anti-Black Racism (2022).

Dr. Turner is a nationally recognized expert on mental health and multicultural psychology and has been quoted by numerous media sources including The New York Times, Washington Post, Ebony Magazine, NPR, Oprah Magazine, USA Today, NBC News and more. In 2014, he was awarded the Judy E. Hall Early Career Psychologist Award by the National Register of Health Service Psychologists. He has served as chair of the APA Board of the Advancement of Psychology in the Public Interest and was appointed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to serve on the Behavioral Health National Project Advisory Committee (2016-2019). He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology (APA Division 53) and founded the SCCAP Leadership Education to Advance Diversity (LEAD) Institute. In 2021, he was awarded the Emerging Professionals – Contributions to Service Award by the Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity, and Race (APA Division 45). Dr. Turner is a past president of the Society for Child and Family Policy and Practice (APA Division 37) and was the first African American male to serve that position.

APA Videos

Working With African American Clients
Thomas A. Parham

Working With African American Men
Anderson J. Franklin

Multicultural Care in Practice
Lillian Comas-Diaz

Reflections on Race and Ethnicity in the Therapeutic Setting
With Rita Chi-Ying Chung, Fred Bemak, Thema Bryant-Davis, and Joseph M. Cervantes

Culture-Centered Counseling
Paul B. Pedersen

Cultural Humility in Therapy
Cirleen DeBlaere and Jesse Owen

APA Books

Treating Depression, Anxiety, and Stress in Ethnic and Racial Groups
Edited by Edward C. Chang, Christina A. Downey, Jameson K. Hirsch, and Elizabeth A. Yu

Applying Multiculturalism: An Ecological Approach to the APA Guidelines
Caroline S. Clauss-Ehlers, Scott J. Hunter, Gayle Skawennio Morse, and Pratyusha Tummala-Narra

Multicultural Feminist Therapy:Helping Adolescent Girls of Color to Thrive
Edited by Thema Bryant-Davis

The Myth of Racial Color Blindness:Manifestations, Dynamics, and Impact
Edited by Helen A. Neville, Miguel E. Gallardo, and Derald Wing Sue

Positive Psychology in Racial and Ethnic Groups:Theory, Research, and Practice
Edited by Edward C. Chang, Christina A. Downey, Jameson K. Hirsch, and Natalie J. Lin, MHSA