Dr. Lassiter
The pursuit of multiple disciplines can often lead to an intersection that allows one to combine their passions. Dr. Jonathan Mathias Lassiter’s career seamlessly illustrates this. Dr. Lassiter is a licensed clinical psychologist specializing in culturally informed mental health services while also serving as the award-winning co-editor of the first and only text to focus solely on Black LGBTQ+ Americans’ holistic health: Black LGBT Health in the United States: The Intersection of Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation. Hailing from Augusta, Georgia, Dr. Lassiter’s research focuses on creating dialogue surrounding the lack of inclusion in mental health practices while advocating for the importance of culturally specific mental health services along with decentering whiteness in these spaces. The clinical psychologist works with his clients to help them deviate from the prioritization of cultural themes such as individualism and materialism into cultural practices that align with their identities.
“In my work as a therapist and professor, I don’t think of what I do so much as decentering whiteness as I think of it more so of helping clients understand and then center their culture - a culture that’s more healthy. In the United States, we’re all sort of raised in this culture of whiteness that teaches us to prioritize individualism, competition, and materialism, like valuing titles and status over healthy relationships and finding our worth in external rewards. I try to help clients recognize and move away from those ways of being and embrace a culture more tied to their racial/ethnic heritages that emphasizes harmony, balance, community, and peace. Research has shown that living in a way aligned with these cultural values at the center of our lives leads to well-being. A lot of my work looks like helping people name whiteness and the subtle, harmful ways it shows up and assisting them in identifying deep cultural values that affirm them. It also includes supporting them in their practice of replacing behaviors, emotions, and thoughts informed by whiteness with those informed by their cultural values.”
Dr. Lassiter’s intentionality in helping individuals become acclimated with innovative approaches to their mental wellness is something he applies in other areas of his professional life as well. His award-winning work, "Black LGBT Health in the United States," explores the intersection of race, gender, and sexual orientation while highlighting the unique challenges faced by Black LGBTQ+ individuals in accessing mental health support.
“I think the main challenge that Black LGBTQ+ people have to accessing mental health is oppression. We know that mental health as a science and healthcare system has been explicitly and implicitly anti-Black, heterosexist, transphobic, etc since its origin. These oppressions compound with capitalistic healthcare systems that create unequal access due to the ability to pay/insurance coverage. It’s not surprising that many Black LGBTQ+ people either experience stigma and self-stigmatize related to mental health, don’t trust mental health care systems and providers, and have a hard time finding a culturally humble provider. For Black LGBTQ+ people seeking mental health care services, I encourage them to engage both traditional avenues (such as BEAM and NQTTCN) and culturally specific methods such as community support systems, spirituality, and culturally indigenous healing practices.”
Regarding healthcare providers’ role in creating more inclusive and affirming spaces for Black LGBTQ+ people, Dr. Lassiter believes there must be an intention to educate themselves about this community while building rapport with organizations that serve it.
“Most mental health providers are poorly trained to provide good mental health care for Black LGBTQ+ people because Black LGBTQ+ people’s culture is not understood by the providers or centered in mental health training. The providers need to educate themselves about the lived experiences and cultures of Black LGBTQ+ communities. They should also foster educational and health-related collaborations between healthcare organizations and Black LGBTQ+ organizations such as Zami NOBLA, The Okra Project, and ADODI.”
For policymakers looking to address the disparities that Black LGBTQ+ individuals face, Dr. Lassiter believes financial support will make the most impact.
“One of the best ways to support Black LGBTQ+ health is to do so financially. This could look like developing more targeted grant, scholarship, and culturally matched mentorship programs for Black LGBTQ+ students interested in becoming mental health providers. It could also look like providing funding to promote and sustain Black, indigenous healers and healing centers. The money needs to be specifically earmarked and allocated to Black people who are already doing work in their communities, who already have the training, and who already have connections to the people in communities who need mental health services.”
