Transformation in psychology: exploring the experiences of black student clinical psychologists at a historically white institution

Abstract

South Africa is currently facing a significant challenge in diversifying racial representation within the clinical psychology profession. With a focus on transformation, this study was conducted to explore the experiences of black clinical psychology students who had completed their first year of master’s training at a historically white institution in the Western Cape, South Africa. A qualitative, phenomenological investigation was conducted into the lived experiences of these students. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling was employed to recruit suitable participants. Following in-depth semi-structured interviews, an interpretive phenomenological analysis was conducted to identify themes related to the experiences of black clinical psychology students during their first training year. Two broad themes emerged: segregation, alienation and othering, and psychological experiences of perceived othering: thoughts, feelings and behaviours. The findings revealed instances of alienation and othering at various stages of the training. The internal responses to these experiences and coping mechanisms adopted by the students provided valuable insights into how the clinical programme at the historically white institution, despite numerous changes, still led to feelings of alienation and segregation. The findings highlight the urgent need for further research to determine how black first-year clinical psychology master’s students could be supported in processing these uncomfortable experiences. The information presented in this study is crucial to allow universities to identify and enhance student support.