Date of Conferral

4-30-2025

Date of Award

April 2025

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Counselor Education and Supervision

Advisor

Katherine Kimsey

Abstract

Researchers have identified a variety of invisible barriers, including Strong Black Woman (SBW), stigma, and religion, that exist for Black females who would be seeking mental health services. There is minimal qualitative data to identify the treatment barriers that Black females experience when seeking mental health services. The experiences of Black females seeking mental health services on HBCU campuses have not been the sole focus of research. The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to fill the gap in the literature by exploring the lived experiences of Black females on HBCU campuses who have sought mental health services on their HBCU campus. The theoretical framework I used for this study was hermeneutic phenomenology. This research sought to answer the research question of what are the lived experiences of Black females seeking mental health services on HBCU campuses. Snowball sampling was used to recruit and interview five Black female current HBCU students over 18, who identified as Black or African American. Data was analyzed utilizing the hermeneutic circle and three major themes and 12 subthemes emerged. The three emerging themes were (a) desire for support, (b) vulnerability, and (c) Strong Black Woman. The implications of this hermeneutic phenomenological study provided an understanding of the desired mental health services of Black female students on HBCU campuses. The findings extended the knowledge surrounding the barrier to seeking mental health services for Black females on HBCU campuses. The results of this may inform HBCUs of the mental health needs of Black female students, which could result in positive social change through mental health awareness and advocacy on HBCU campuses.

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