S. Bryant Hagan, a 2024 graduate of the PhD Program in Couple and Family Therapy at Antioch University, New Englan, has published her dissertation titled, “Exploring Viability in Help-Seeking Attitudes and Preferences Among Black Christian Churchgoers: A Case for Interprofessional Collaboration Between Black Churches and Mental Health Professionals.”
This study examines the relationship between self-concealment and attitudes toward seeking mental health support from both religious and professional sources among Black, Christian churchgoing adults in the United States. While support for collaborative partnerships between Black churches and mental health professionals is increasing, little research has explored how the sociocultural barriers faced by Black individuals in these domains influence their willingness to seek help. The study aims to understand how perceived or real negative consequences of mental health treatment might lead individuals to conceal their struggles, favoring self-concealment instead. Using a quantitative, cross-sectional research design, the study investigates how these dynamics impact mental health help-seeking preferences within the Black community.
Hagan is a passionate, holistically focused relational practitioner who has dedicated her career to helping individuals, couples, and families enhance the quality of their relationships. She has served in both clinical and community-based settings, supporting a variety of diverse populations, including active duty military, veterans, couples, youth, and families.
Read Hagan’s dissertation here.
