Black Americans and African Descendants (BAAD) Affinity Group was formed to stimulate cross-disciplinary discussion among Black mental health (counseling, psychology, social work, marriage and family therapy, black psychology, creative arts therapies, sociology) professionals and afro-centric holistic healing professionals, in order to advance the needs of Black students, professionals, and menta
l health consumers. BAAD’s cross-disciplinary approach to discussion and research is also intended to raise awareness about Dance Movement Therapy in the minds of other mental health practitioners and to learn from other mental health and afro-centric holistic healing practitioners traditions that contribute to the well-being of Black persons. An important goal of the BAAD affinity group is to unite, organize, and support Black dance movement therapy students and professionals in an effort to develop an approach to Dance Movement Therapy (DMT) that is consistent with the experience of Black people within the Americas (North, South, Latin or Caribbean) and abroad internationally. In order to reach this primary mission, BAAD has assessed that expanding its learning and awareness outside the DMT paradigm to engage other mental health fields and culturally indigenous healing customs, whose practice and research are focused on uncovering the various aspects of well-being for Black persons is of utmost importance and is also consistent with cultural competent standards.
