The Predictive Efficacy of Racial Identity Attitudes, Historically Black College/University Attendance, and Sources of Motivation in Black Therapists' Career Choices

Understanding Black therapists' educational decisions contributes to increasing Black therapists' representation and accessibility. The present study explored the role of racial identity attitudes, demographic factors, and motivations for becoming a therapist (e.g., personal experiences, altruism) in predicting membership in the subfields of counseling, clinical psychology, and social work. Black therapists (N = 129) were surveyed about their career trajectories and personal characteristics. Predictors of subfield membership were examined using multinomial logistic regression. Black therapists who endorsed the racial identity status of internalization and those who were motivated by family problems were more likely to be social workers or counselors than clinical psychologists. Attending a historically Black college/university and being motivated by professional altruism predicted membership in social work relative to clinical psychology, whereas those who were motivated by the experience of personal problems were more likely to be clinical psychologists than counselors or social workers. We conclude that Black therapists' career decision making appears to be consistent with the expressed values of psychotherapy subfields. Understanding Black therapists' motivations and career trajectories can inform recruitment and retention efforts within psychotherapist training and employment. Public Significance Statement This survey study suggests that among Black therapists, there are important differences between social workers, clinical psychologists, and counseling psychologists. Observed differences included motivation for becoming a therapist, racial identity (attitudes related to race, society, and one's own life), and history of attending a historically Black college or university. Understanding why Black therapists choose particular career paths can help therapist training programs recruit and retain Black students.