Exploring Black Clinical Psychologists’ Experiences of Racism and its Discussion at Work and in the Profession.

This research aimed to explore Black Clinical Psychologists’ (BCPs’) experiences of racism and its discussion at work and in the profession. Within this, there was a focus on how they describe and make sense of their experiences, how they feel they are positioned and perceived when racism is discussed, how they navigate conversations about racism and how they think a sense of safety and support could be fostered within these experiences.

In line with the critical realist epistemological position, the methodology employed a qualitative design. Data was collected through twelve in-depth semi-structured interviews with clinical psychologists who self-identified as Black and practiced in the UK. Interviews were analysed using an inductive approach to reflexive thematic analysis. Five themes were identified:

• “It is what I am”: BCP identity
• Whiteness at work
• Spotlighting Whiteness; the work of anti-racism
• Resistance
• “An absolute mess”; what needs to change

These themes highlight and provide a narrative of the systemic and systematic processes of Whiteness and the ways in which it manifests in BCPs’ lived experiences.

The analyses are discussed in relation to the research question and existing literature. Drawing upon the analyses, recommendations for clinical practice, policy, future research and education and training are made.