With all the talk of entry into the profession and the training experience, what about Black clinical psychologists post qualification?

Abstract

The focus on how Whiteness and racism exclude racialised individuals from entering the profession, and adversely impact the experiences of racialised trainees, has led to an oversight of the experiences of racialised, specifically Black, qualified clinical psychologists. The doctoral research this article is based on aimed to address this gap by exploring Black Clinical Psychologists’ (BCPs’) experiences of racism and its discussion at work and in the profession. The accounts provided illustrate the ways in which Whiteness continues to permeate the professional context and remain a consistent feature of the lives of our Black colleagues following their transition into qualified life. Their testimony highlights the detrimental impact of Whiteness and racism on their emotional and psychological wellbeing, and willingness to remain within the profession and the NHS. In sharing their experiences, they remind us that, although the profession is keen to celebrate its efforts to tackle racism during the pre-qualification phase, the work of addressing Whiteness and becoming anti-racist is far from complete; our Black qualified colleagues continue to endure ongoing harm.