Managing Self-Care Among Black Male Licensed Professional Counselors: A Phenomenological Study Using Photovoice

The African Americans (Blacks) in the 1500s to 1600s represented beauty, resilience, and nobility, but history led to slavery, oppression, and trauma. Because of this history, Black male mental health counselors are experiencing systemic racism, stigmas, and underrepresentation in the counseling profession. However, there is limited research regarding Black male counselors’ self-care and wellness. Because self-care is becoming increasingly important to maintain optimal health and wellness, this transcendental phenomenological study explored African American male counselors' lived experiences and how they manage self-care personally and professionally. Data were collected from 10 African American (Black) male professional counselors in a semistructured interview, focus groups, and photovoice. Data analysis with epoche (bracketing), phenomenology reduction, imaginary variation, and synthesis of meaning for trustworthiness helped identify themes and patterns of their lived experiences regarding self-care and wellness. Themes and subthemes included professional barriers and challenges (systemic barriers & challenges, (racism, oppression, and discrimination); marginalization, (feeling of loneliness, isolation, microaggressions, and stereotypes); personal barriers and challenges (Black male identity [authentic self], work-life balance, and guilt); resources and support (community, social justice, and advocacy, and mentorship); self-care and wellness (mental health, well-being, self-care and resilience). The information provided a cultural informed for African American (Black) professional counselors and self-care for the well-being of a community in need of social justice and advocacy in the mental health profession.