Preliminary findings on being and becoming: Exploring the experiences of Black Caribbean and African creative arts therapists

Abstract

This article explores the preliminary findings on the professional experiences of Black Caribbean and African creative arts therapists in the United Kingdom. Although there is a growing recognition of creative arts therapies (CATs) as effective mental health interventions, there is limited research on the experiences of Black therapists in this field. Using a phenomenology as a methodology, the study aims to fill this gap by examining the lived experiences along with the unique challenges and opportunities faced by Black creative arts therapists of African and Caribbean descent. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews alongside arts-based methods with a total of eighteen participants across the different CAT disciplines, i.e. drama, dance movement, art and music therapy. Findings that emerge from the preliminary analysis cover topics such as training experiences, professional relationships and therapeutic practice. Participants consistently reported a lack of cultural competency training, frequent encounters with racism and discrimination and the critical importance of cultural understanding in building therapeutic and professional relationships. These preliminary findings highlight the need for more inclusive training programmes, enhanced institutional support, targeted professional development opportunities and the lack of robust research in the Black spaces of mental health research. Underscoring the importance of addressing systemic biases and fostering a supportive environment for minority therapists have an impact on improving therapeutic outcomes for diverse client populations.

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