Finding a Psychologist of Colour Shouldn't Be This Hard
New paper calls for greater inclusion by shining a spotlight on the profession.
Updated November 6, 2025 | Reviewed by Monica Vilhauer Ph.D.
Three years ago, as my marriage was dissolving, I was in crisis and desperately needed support. As a Black professional woman, I searched for a Black psychologist in my city of Ottawa, Canada’s capital—someone who would implicitly understand my world without me having to explain the basics of my existence. I couldn't find a single one.
My search ended with a compromise: remote therapy with a therapist hours away in Toronto. Even then, the best I could find was a White psychologist who, thankfully, had the training and insight to understand the racial discrimination I navigate daily. The search was exhausting and it revealed a sobering gap in care. Finding a therapist who gets it shouldn't be this hard.
My experience, sadly, is not unique. Every day, individuals from racialized communities face this same scarcity. This isn't an accident or a coincidence. As a psychologist, researcher, and the senior author of a new paper in Canadian Psychology , I can tell you that this shortage is the direct result of systemic barriers within our profession. The new paper, titled Opening the Gate: A Call for Inclusion and Representation of Peoples of Colour in Canadian Professional Psychology, examines precisely how these barriers function and what we must do as a profession to tear them down.
The work builds upon findings from our original 2023 article, Lions at the Gate , and provides an instructive path forward for a field that is failing to reflect the diversity of the society it serves.
Uncovering the Hidden Barriers in Psychology
Our research has identified several critical issues that actively prevent Black, Indigenous, and other people of colour (BIPOC) from becoming professional psychologists:
A Clear Path to a More Inclusive Profession
Our goal is not simply to identify problems, but to offer clear, actionable solutions. While the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) has pointed to recent updates in its accreditation standards (CPA, 2025), our analysis concludes that without mechanisms for accountability, these changes are not enough to dismantle long-standing barriers.
Based on these findings, our professional bodies can take two immediate and essential steps:
Why This Matters to Everyone
This is not an internal, academic issue. The diversity of our profession is directly linked to public trust and the quality of mental health care. Finding a therapist who understands a client's cultural background and the real-world impact of racism is often a critical component of effective, ethical care.
The health of our communities depends on a psychology profession that is accessible, representative, and just. To achieve this, we must move beyond statements of support for equity and begin the real work of sharing power and removing the gates that have kept so many out for so long.
Faber, S. C., Cenat, J. M., Sawyer, K., Metzger, I. W., Shaughnessy, K., Madsen, J., MacIntyre, M. M., Goghari, V. M., Ansloos, J., & Williams, M. T. (in press). Opening the gate: A call for inclusion and representation of peoples of colour in Canadian professional psychology . Canadian Psychology.
Faber, S., Williams, M. T., Metzger, I. W., MacIntyre, M. M., Strauss, D., Duniya, C. G., Sawyer, K., Cénat, J. M., & Goghari, V. (2023). Lions at the gate: How weaponization of policy prevents people of colour from becoming professional psychologists in Canada. Canadian Psychology, 64 (4), 335–354. https://doi.org/10.1037/cap0000352
Canadian Psychological Association (2025). Canadian Psychological Association's comment on Faber et al.'s (2023) "Lions at the gate: How weaponization of policy prevents people of colour from becoming professional psychologists in Canada". Canadian Psychology . https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/cap0000434
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Monnica Williams, Ph.D., ABPP, is a licensed clinical psychologist and professor at the University of Ottawa in the School of Psychology, where she is the Canada Research Chair for Mental Health Disparities.
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.