Date of Award
5-10-2026
Date Published
June 2026
Degree Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)
Department
Mass Communications
Advisor(s)
Anne Osborne
Subject Categories
Communication | Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract
Given television’s capacity to shape audience perceptions (Bryant & Oliver 2009) and help our cultural understandings of mental health (McMahon-Coleman & Weaver, 2020), both academic and industry research on mental health depictions and stigmas on television have increased. However, with the growing crisis and need for mental healthcare within the Black community over the past 15 years, this research uses a critical qualitative textual analysis to explore television's portrayal of fictional Black Lady Therapist (BLT) as a main character, and how these depictions counter and support stereotypical depictions of the Black woman and how these depictions can be used to challenge stigmatization of care in the community. A total of three themes emerged from the analysis including, The Contemporary Mammy’: A Doubly Desirable Token of Service and Care; Smile: The Strength of Strong Black Women, and Validation of the Black Women Therapist. There were three additional archetypes of therapeutic care from the BLT that emerged from the analysis including: the Textbook Provider; the Social Media Healer; and the Culturally Aware Contemporary Therapist.
Access
Open Access
Recommended Citation
Johnson, Tiara, "Who Really Cares: A Critical Textual Analysis of Television Portrayals of the Fictional “Black Lady Therapist” Post-Pandemic" (2026). Dissertations - ALL. 2265.
https://surface.syr.edu/etd/2265
