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Robinson, Maxine J. (2025) Power, identity, and social positioning in the professional lives of Black counselling psychologists: a Foucauldian discourse analysis. Doctoral thesis, London Metropolitan University.
Background:
Despite increasing recognition of the importance of race and ethnicity in Counselling Psychology, there remains a lack of attention to the complex relationship between professional identity and racial identity for Black psychologists. This study addresses this gap by exploring how these identities intersect and what this means for the profession.
Methodology and findings:
The author conducted semi-structured interviews with seven counselling psychologists in the UK, focusing on their professional and racial identities. Using Foucauldian discourse analysis, the study identified several discourses among the participants, including practices of self-preservation and social activism. The analysis reveals that the participants’ identities are not fixed or uniform but are constantly constructed and negotiated within their professional lives.
Implications:
The findings of this study underscore the need for greater awareness and discussion of the dynamic interplay between professional and racial identities in counselling psychology, including recognising the effect of broader societal power relations and cultural values on professional identity construction. It also highlights the crucial importance of supporting Black and ethnic minority counselling psychologists in navigating complex and sometimes conflicting demands placed on their identities. The study’s broader implications for the Counselling Psychology profession in the UK are also discussed, emphasising the need for empathy and support within the field.
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