Life coach and licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) Jameson Mercier of Mercier Wellness—known as The Haitian Therapist—counsels clients on everything from marital problems to relationship issues to matters related to sexual abuse. Mercier’s job as a therapist is probably two-folds more challenging than that of other professionals in his field, as the majority of his clients are from a community where some often refuse to acknowledge the need to seek professional help.

Presently working on a doctorate in Marriage and Family Therapy at Nova Southeastern University (he holds a Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from Barry University), Mercier is a sought-after mental health professional in South Florida. Social work and family organizations look to him for his insights into Haitian and Caribbean culture, and clients love to talk to him because he’s able to understand them from an expert’s point of view as well as from a cultural perspective. Mercier hosts a show with his wife Herdyne called “The Power Couple” on Hot 105, a radio station based in Miami. The Miami Herald honored him as “Best in Social Work” in 2011.

How did you get interested in therapy and counseling?

I have always been interested in talking to people and learning about relationships and families. However, there were two key moments that solidified it for me. The first was the passing of my father. I was nine years old at the time and I remember struggling to understand was all this meant. No one was talking to the kids about death and the emotions and no one in my family received any sort of grief counseling. That whole ordeal stuck with me and I remember thinking that people need help with this stuff.

The second thing was working with families in the child welfare system. When I first started as a social worker, I helped families be reunified with their children. It just seemed odd to me that there weren’t any interventions until after something terrible happened. It was then I decided to work with families to help them resolve the stressors that lead to the child abuse and domestic violence.

I’ve read all sorts of commentaries as to why people won’t seek professional help…especially people of color. And about how it has to do with how they are perceived by society….

There are a number of reasons people do not seek professional help. Many people feel they can handle it on their own. Others don’t want people to know they have problems. There are individuals who think therapy is for the weak. For people of color, unless there is something tangible (housing, food, etc.) counseling is a last resort, usually at the urging of the authorities.

Within the Haitian culture, the prevailing idea is that only crazy people need counseling; and even then, the most common intervention within the Haitian community is the church or prayer. So all these things combined make it so that people of color don’t seek professional help. I think a lot of people think that their problems can be taken care of in-house. But how can a person tell whether taking care of things in-house won’t do…To be fair, there are some things that can be resolved in-house, but you must have the tools and skills. If you are stressed or overwhelmed, depending on the severity you may not need to see a professional. It may be crunch time at work due to the launch of a new project. Once the project is over, things go back to normal.

The key thing people should look out for is when there is an impairment to their functioning. This means you can’t sleep or eat. For example, if your alcohol consumption used to be limited to when you were out with friends, but now you need a drink to even get started, its time to call a professional to get to figure out the cause and receive treatment.

In regards to sexual abuse, what do you think the consensus is in the Haitian and other Caribbean communities?

Sexual abuse occurs much more often in the Haitian and other Caribbean communities than most people realize. Within those communities, it is something that is seriously underreported. Similar to sexual abuse in America, the perpetrators are usually family members or someone close to the family. The victims are scared, confused, and don’t want to talk about it. Furthermore, they wouldn’t even know who to talk to. In some instances, the victims don’t realize that what happened to them is abuse until years later.

In immigrant communities where the victims are undocumented, or may not speak the language, they feel they have no options. However, as more information gets out in the community about available resources, there is a shift and things are improving.

What’s been your experience in regards to treating those in the Haitian community about depression and mental health?

In the Haitian community, it is as if there’s no such thing as depression. What you often hear are: Mwen pa pi mal—I’m not any worse. And—N’ap brase—We are hustling/struggling—and Pito nou lèd, nou la—better to be ugly and alive.These are all indicative of a community that is experiencing or has experienced a lot of hardships. My experience of the Haitian community is that they are accustomed to neglecting themselves in exchange for survival and providing for their children and families. You hear the word resilient a lot whenever you talk about Haitians. Haitians in general pride themselves on overcoming obstacles and relying on their faith.

My experience is limited when it comes to treating depression in the Haitian community. I don’t see a lot of Haitians in my office for depression. They don’t stop to find out why they are angry or sad. To consider, even for a moment, that their mental/emotional health my be in jeopardy means that they might be crazy, and that can’t happen.

How important is communication in therapy?

Communication is the lifeline of therapy. During therapy, a lot of talking takes place. It doesn’t have to be pretty, but it is necessary in order to figure out the problems and issues that people are having. Clients sometimes start out reserved and don’t say much, but eventually they open up. Other clients are less than honest, but that’s fine with me because it is relevant information. It says that there is more going on. When I see couples that are having relationship difficulties, the first thing I do is get them talking about the problem. If we talk about them, then we can resolve them.

Would you say that relationship issues…divorces and stuff are a big problem?

This is a difficult question. My simple answer is yes and no. The issues you find in relationships are not big problems. The problem is all the stuff we carry with us into the relationship. Relationships can be difficult. In a marriage where there are children to tend to, finances to manage on a limited income, and sick parents to look after, it gets really difficult. However, not everyone has problems with those challenges. It is only when there are unresolved issues around money, parenting, etc., that things get complicated.

And there’s another big one. Domestic violence…

Let me first say that while the majority of victims of domestic violence are women, men are abused also. Domestic violence is a big problem. Recent statistics show that 1 out of 3 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. Some feel it’s okay because they have an unhealthy sense of what relationships should be like. I recently did a show with Rick Party on HOT 105 with some survivors of domestic violence and they echoed what some the research says.

There are some women who become victims and remain in the relationship because they are seeking to fill a void like love and self-worth. Some victims witnessed their parents in abusive relationship and think that it’s “normal” to be hit by your partner. I’ve heard women and men say that if you’re husband or wife isn’t jealous, then he doesn’t love you. “He beats me because he’s crazy about me”. For other women, it’s because of financial reasons. They have children and feel they are stuck and have nowhere to go.

As far as the abusers go, often times they are just as lost and broken as the victims. They too may have come from dysfunctional and broken homes. They are angry and don’t know how to deal with their anger other than taking it out on someone else. What people need to know is that domestic violence is not okay. Love don’t hurt.

Do you think part of the reason why some won’t seek help, is because they figure that problems are a part of life…that it’s cowards and weaklings who can’t take care of their own problems.

For some people, that’s part of the reason. Depending where you’re from or how you grew up, there is some shame associated with seeking help. For others, seeking help is admitting and accepting that you are a failure and that you’re weak. That is absolutely the wrong way to think about it. It’s no different from seeing a doctor for a check up or a procedure. It’s about keeping you healthy. Some problems we can handle on our own, but then there are those that require professional help.

If you know someone who could use The Haitian Therapist’s services, be sure to refer them to Mercier Wellness, and help them help themselves.

| Click to Visit the Mercier Wellness website |

Singer and songwriter Sarah Jane Rameau completed her album Lost Breed late last year and released the work this past spring. Catch this snippet of an interview I had with her, in which she discusses the obsession of creatives with perfectionism, her thoughts on vocal and mental health, as well as the importance of mentors.

Kreyolicious: One thing about creatives is that they sometimes tend to get obsessed. How do you know when a song is done?
Sarah Jane Rameau: Too early to say, but why not writing it out loud to the Universe via your blog? [Laughter] With my fellow Haitian artists, I would love to have a collaboration with the old and the new generation together. For example, imagine some Reginald Policard or Beethovah Obas on a Jael Auguste production… I also think about rappers on the scene now such as Princess Eud, Synedad, Wendyyy, Kalibr…for vocal collaboration, I am thinking about Mikaben, Riva Precil, Darline Desca, Nathalie Cerin, Cecile Mc Lorin Salvant or Alexa…These people have strong identities through their voices and I really admire that…They are vocally magical…So why not?! There are so many emerging talents in our Haitian community!! It’s amazing and makes me proud…As for international artists, I would like to pursue my production with Vax-1, the one who produced my single, Raindrop or Mark Ronson…And as [for] international artists, there are so many…But the closest to me would be the Belgium rapper Romeo Elvis, French artists such as Tairo…on the British scene: Jungle, Izzy Bizu, Asa…American scene: Snarky Puppy, PostModern Jukebox, Jhene Aiko, Justin Timberlake, Gaga. Just so many…
Kreyolicious: Music can take a toll on one’s well-being, especially when you’re so devoted to it. What measures do you take to care for your voice and your mental health?
Sarah Jane Rameau: For me, music is therapy. This album has been a container where I threw out all of my frustration encoutered during my stay. To remain sane, I first disconnect myself from everything and everyone that’s negative to me. I write a lot. I go to resourceful places. My favorite place to go are my mother’s hometown, La Vallée de Jacmel, where I enjoy the mountains and the beach down in Jacmel. I get inspired a lot by the beach…As I grow and get serious in my music, I need to practice my voice every day. I pay more attention to what I eat and drink. I’m trying to reduce my drinking and smoking habits…I am now trying to get back at my work out routine. Also, I am back in France now, so I’m back to my jazz-improv classes…

Kreyolicious: Would you advise those who are just beginning their recording careers to seek out mentors?
Sarah Jane Rameau: I always think it’s great to have a mentor. They’ve been knowing the field for years. They give you pointers, constructive criticism, instructions, help you broaden your cultural field in music and help you see many details that you, as young starter, you wouldn’t even think of. There’s a lot you can learn through them, and you also can also share your knowledge with them. They have a legacy to transmit and you to embrace and to incorporate. As for me, Reginald Policard is my mentor and I have learned a lot with him throughout this time. And I can only be grateful for everything he has taught me.

[Photos: Courtesy/via subject’s website]

CliCK HERE to buy Lost Breed on iTunes| CLICK HERE to buy Lost Breed on Amazon |

CLICK HERE to visit singer Sarah Jane Rameau’s website.

Boston-born and bred rapper and lyricist Theresa Sophia wants to bring your attention to a serious matter. While she is known for her rhymes and for being Boston’s Millennial Lauryn Hill, it’s not her latest single that’s in discussion here. It’s her new mental health documentary What’s On Your Mind? Giving Voice to Residents of Roxbury and Harlem. The 30-min self-produced, and self-directed production is her first leap into filmmaking, but judging on how articulate the work is, it hopefully won’t be her last.

Women in hip-hop aren’t supposed to show vulnerability, or so says popular wisdom. They’re supposed to be unbreakable walls, pillows to assuage their men’s troubles. Theresa Sophia has wiggled out of that mold, and wants to tell the whole world that being conscious of your mental health, and managing your own self-care…now that’s strength.

Kreyolicious: You mentioned how your own journey to mental health inspired this work?
Through getting a therapist and especially a life coach I got the opportunity to verbalize different things I had been thinking. I had the opportunity to really dig deep and find ways to articulate how I was feeling. This felt really good. It felt good to continuously challenge myself to find the root causes as to why I was experiencing anxiety attacks and be empowered with tools to help me cope outside of medication. Expressing yourself without fear or judgement just feels really good, and I know not everyone can afford a life coach or has someone in their life that they can be open with so I just felt maybe I could be that person to some.

Kreyolicious: Do you think that women in hip-hop feel compelled and pressured to portray this image of this unbreakable and unbothered woman?
Yes, and not just in hip-hop. I come from a long line of really strong women that have to hold it down for their spouses and their children. They have to support multiple people, emotionally and financially, work long hours and never really get time for themselves. I see a lot of women lose themselves caring for everyone else and it’s like they feel they always have to be good for everyone else. The narrative of black women is that they have to be strong, that’s in Hip Hop, Haiti, everywhere.

Kreyolicious: What obstacles did you run into as you prepared this doc?
I got kicked out of Dudley [train] station the last time I filmed there. It was funny because the officer said I was soliciting and I replied with “I am helping the people” then began explaining what I was doing in detail and I could see in his face he was taken aback at what I was doing and maybe how articulate I was, but he kicked me out anyway. [Laughter]

I also spoke to tons of amazing people that did not want to be on camera.

I’m nowhere near rich, so having a small budget and limited resources and prevented a few things, but I think we made it work.

Kreyolicious: People don’t want to hear that they’re depressed…they might resent being told that they need to see a therapist or counselor. How to best reach someone who needs help?
In the past I have told people they need to see a therapist in a malicious tone and no one wants that. I think approach is key. I think if it is in a calm manner, in a way where the person knows it comes from a place of love, thats’s the first step. Also prepare some first steps for them like getting a website for them to explore, or a number to call it makes things a little less overwhelming and allows people to do some of their own research at the same time.

Kreyolicious: Any books you’d recommend to those trying to find their way to mental health fitness?
Just finished Your Are a Badass: How to Stop Doubting Yourself and Start Living an Awesome Life. So good!

Kreyolicious: Were you reticent at all about this project?
The project not really, but going out there and doing what I was doing at first yes. I remember telling my mom and her saying it was a good idea, but then being really nervous to tell my close friends so I didn’t even really tell many people until a week in when I posted a picture on Facebook.

Kreyolicious: What has the response been so far?
So far, people are loving it and connecting with it. We are making huge strides in mental health in general, and I think this documentary coincides with that movement.

Kreyolicious: What are your plans for this doc?
I want to seek out additional funding in the form of grants, maybe even enter some film festivals and see where things lead. Ideally, I would like to travel the country with my sign, train up some people and continue to hit the streets in different cities.

You can watch the video below! If you’d like to support Theresa Sophia and her work, contact her directly here!