Applying a race-conscious, Black feminist approach to anti-racist educational psychology practice through the views and experiences of Black women Educational Psychologists

Aim/Rationale: In 2006, the DECP released guidance for Educational Psychologists named ‘Promoting Racial Equality within Educational Psychology Services: A Report from the DECP Working Party on Anti-Racism’ (Division of Educational and Child Psychology; DECP, 2006). In this, amongst confirming that racism existed throughout education and within educational psychology, it also outlined a particularly relevant finding for the current study: ‘Some Black psychologists identified lack of support and a disregard for the impact of racism on them’ (DECP, 2006, p.16). 20 years later and following the increased awareness of the deadly impact of racism following the murder of George Floyd in 2020, this research was intentional in exploring the experiences of Black women educational psychologists (BWEPs) and their views of anti-racist practice (ARP) in Educational Psychology. Method: Five semi-structured interviews were completed with Black Women EPs and analysed through Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). Findings: Three Group Experiential Themes (GETs) were identified. The first explored their valued intersectional identities and subsequent experiences. The second outlined their feelings, views and reflections of being a BWEP, whilst engaging in anti-racist working groups, service discussions, supervision and anti-racist work in schools. The final GET describes their understanding of the key strands and features of anti-racism in educational psychology. Limitations: This research offers a valuable perspective and framework, that can inform ongoing understandings of anti-racism in educational psychology. However, this was an intentionally qualitative, relatively homogenous, small sample study which may impact generalisability. Conclusion: The impact of anti-racism on Black colleagues must be attended to, and more should be done to embed anti-racism in the profession. The paper ends with a framework for a race-conscious, critical and reflective approach to anti-racism in Educational Psychology through the principles of Critical Race Theory and Black Feminism.