Doctoral Research Study
Black Women, Nature, and Liberation: An Ecotherapy Inquiry into Belonging, Identity, and Healing in Urban Settings

Centering on Black women, the research acknowledges the ancestral and spiritual connections to land that have been disrupted by colonialism, enslavement, and urbanization. The study is guided by the belief that nature-based interventions (NBIs) like Ecotherapy are rooted in ancestral memory and can be used as culturally affirming frameworks, which can foster deeper perceptions of interconnectedness and self-connection, address identity distress and contribute to trauma repair for Black communities impacted by environmental racism.

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This study aims to:

1) Understand how Black women experience nature as a site of healing and
self-reclamation.

2) Explore how nature based practices can promote belonging, identity
development, and healing in urban Black communities.

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3) Explore the intersection of environmental injustice and psychological well-being.

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4) Inform culturally affirming, community-based wellness interventions that benefit Black population in the US. By investigating these relationships, the research aims to not only provide a foundation for culturally inclusive NBI interventions and inform policies and programs to improve mental health outcomes in this population but also inform the development of an accessible, culturally intuitive model of Ecotherapy that promotes healing and identity integration for Black women in urban settings.

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Eligibility

- Identify as a Black woman

- Age 25-45

- Reside in LA County in an urban area (not suburb or rural area)

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Facilitated by: Tiffany Wright LCSW, Doctoral Candidate, Morgan State University,

School of Social Work

Research advisor: Dr. Christa Gilliam

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If you previously filled out the interest form, we will be in contact with you in the coming days, with next steps.

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