Proactively Addressing the Shortage of Blacks in Psychology: Highlighting the School Psychology Subfield

To circumvent the disproportionately low number of persons of African descent in psychology, this study offers strategies for recruiting and retaining Black students and professionals. Data for this study were collected from 44 Black students and 3 Black faculty. Participants responded to questions that inquired about their perspectives regarding (a) effective recruitment and retention strategies, (b) being the vast minority in school/work settings, and (c) counselor race-ethnicity. Data were analyzed using the grounded theory constant comparative analysis approach. This study contributes to all psychology fields in at least two ways: first in its presentation of innovative strategies that have the potential to enhance racial-ethnic diversity in psychology and second in its presentation of insights that may improve the mental and behavioral health services provided to diverse people. While the need for greater diversity is highlighted for the school psychology subfield, it is noted that psychology in general is in need. Additionally, though the study pays greater attention to student concerns, all the findings also factor into postgraduate life. Recommendations for future research are offered