Black Men's Continuation in Counseling: A Critical Constructivist Grounded Theory

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to understand help‐seeking behavior based on Black men's experiences in mental health counseling. Using a critical constructivist grounded theory approach, the participant pool consisted of 11 Black men, who completed semistructured interviews on their counseling experiences. Data from these 11 interviews revealed a core category that Black men continue counseling to pursue healing, challenge stigma, and break stereotypes around masculinity, race, and authentic engagement in mental health. This theory consisted of four clusters (I Can and Will Do This Here, Personal Decisions, Witnessing Change, and Recommendations for Mental Health Services). Relevant implications for clinical practice, education, and research are discussed. Primary focus is on how Black men as clients discussed their own journeys of help‐seeking and believed counseling to support the emotional and psychological concerns presented by trauma and racism.