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 |

The reigning Miss Haiti Legacy, beauty queen Jessica Saint-Georges hopes to leave a legacy as a crusader against sexual abuse. Born in Boston and raised in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, the 23-year old RN student may be shy when it comes to everything else, but she’s not timid when it comes to denouncing sexual abuse.

Through her self-founded organization NOSA, the one-time Miss Leogane is using all the resources available to her to raise awareness about pedophilia and sexual abuse in the county where she was raised, as well as her parents’ native land.

Her personal story is heart-wrenching, but her determination to speak out on behalf of those abused in the community and her decision to not be a “forever victim” will inspire you and draw your admiration. I promise.

Kreyolicious: Your platform is sexual abuse. Why do you think it’s so important to spread awareness about this?
I was sexually abused at the age of eight and again at thirteen years old. At the time, it didn’t really occur to me that what happened was a crime. I was threatened to not say anything or else…so I never said anything until I turned Twenty-One. Being able to let that out felt like the biggest load was lifted off my chest, my back, my head…I just felt free like all chains were broken. I spent eight to thirteen years of my life being afraid, feeling guilty, and not really knowing who “Jessica” is as a person. Thinking of every older man as a pervert who wanted nothing else from me but my body. I could never really be just me. I spent summers in sweats, basketball shorts, and tee-shirts to hide my body.

Raising awareness about this topic, especially in the Haitian community is so important to me because it’s not something that is spoken about in the Haitian household. We all know the saying “Tifi ak ti gason se gasoline ak alimet” [Girl mixed with boy is like gasoline and matches put together]. Young Haitian kids are afraid to confide in adults because they’re afraid nobody will believe them and fear being punished. I found a statistic that showed 7 out of 10 girls in Haiti will be sexually abused before the age of sixteen. To me, that’s mind-blowing. You hear about the stories of women getting raped in the tents after the earthquake and even during the election that just passed. Homes were being broken into by robbers. Mothers were being forced to have sex with their sons and fathers being forced to have sex with their daughters. We hear about it. We get mad, then what? We do nothing, and that’s the problem right there.

Kreyolicious: And you’ve created an organization called NOSA…
I decided to create my organization called NOSA (NO Sexual Abuse). I created the idea back in 2012 and finally brought it to life in 2014. NOSA focuses on raising awareness on sexual abuse but also has events such as “Christmas in Haiti” and “Back to School Haiti” where I give back to the community. This organization is my baby. I’ve gotten alot of great support and feedback from family, friends, and people who I don’t even know. It’s an awesome feeling and I appreciate it so much.

Kreyolicious: Tell me about the whole pageantry process, and what it was like to be named Miss Haiti legacy?
Pageantry actually happened by accident to be honest. I was on Facebook one day scrolling down and I saw a picture of Sarodj Bertin with a link to apply as Miss Haiti. I was like, “Oh let me try and see what this is about.” I applied and got a call back the next day. I was in shock. I didn’t think anyone was actually going to call me. From there, I did join the pageant and held the title as Miss Leogane. I’m glad that I did get into pageantry because it gave me a chance to be able to create a platform where I can share my story and be a voice for others. Pageantry is definitely a lot of work. It’s not all glamorous like it seems. You have to be 100% committed. I decided to join a different pageant system last year (Miss Legacy) and I now hold the title as Miss Legacy Haiti 2016! It feels so great and it fits me perfectly. The Miss Legacy organization is focused on you building yourself while showcasing your talent and beauty. It gives you a chance to build your platform and leave behind a legacy. Being that I am the first Miss Legacy Haiti, I already left a legacy right there. Being one of the queens of Haiti and being able to show Haiti in a positive light is very important to me because at the end of the day, I am a reflection of Haiti. Everything that I do or say is a reflection of what Haiti is. We are not the “earthquake” or “poor” country. Haiti is beautiful, fearless, and resilient and people need to know that.

Kreyolicious: Were there times in your life when you didn’t feel pretty?
My dad left when I was six years old. So not having him in my life and then experiencing sexual abuse two years later really took a toll on me mentally. It didn’t really make me feel like I wasn’t pretty, but more so worthless. Almost like I was here on earth just to be here with no purpose at all. I didn’t really overcome this issue until I turned Twenty-One.

Kreyolicious: How did you overcome that?
I had to learn all over again. I had to learn to love myself. I had to learn to not have so much anger towards my father. I had to learn to be me and not worry about what anybody else thought of me because that right there is poison. We get so caught up in trying to please mankind and this somewhat of a fake society, that we forget to love ourselves and put us first. So after I came to that realization and that light switched on, all negativity and anger went out the window.

Kreyolicious: A lot of things come with time. Is there anything that you used to be really bad at, that you’ve gotten better at as time went along.
I would say being confident, putting my trust in someone else, and being comfortable with myself. I think those three things are what has held me back from being Jessica. The things that have happened in my life held me back from being able to put my trust in others. They held me back from dressing how I wanted to because I was afraid every older man would look at me like meat. They held me back from being the fun, big-hearted person that I am. When I decided to let go and let God and started going back to church, I felt like my mind and heart were cleansed. After I let go of the rage that I had inside my heart, it’s like I was reborn again into this new life. I read this quote from Gerard Way that says: “Sometimes you have to kind of die inside in order to rise from your ashes and believe in yourself and love yourself to become a new person.” That’s exactly what I had to do in order to free myself.

Above: Jessica Saint Georges..Miss Legacy…Photo Credit: Earle Brown

Kreyolicious: If you could send out a message to all the young women out there, what would you say?
Know your value. Know who you are as an individual. Never allow anyone to make you feel less of a person. If you’ve gone through anything tragic in your life, it’s ok. Release the anger. Release the hate. All it will do is eat you up inside and send you into this dark place. Know that it is okay to not be okay. Our trials are what allow us to have a testimony and just because we have trials does not mean it is the end of life. It’s bootcamp for greater things that are coming our way. Love yourself before anything else and find your voice.

Above: The beauty queen basking in her beauty, and newly-found confidence. Photo Credit: Davion Forbes

Kreyolicious: What’s next on your agenda?
I am currently working on my “Back to School Haiti” project. Back to School Haiti is basically focused on giving back to the Haitian community. I travel to Haiti and hand out school supplies to the kids whose parents can’t afford to buy them these items. We give out backpacks, notebooks, hand sanitizers, toiletries, etc. This is the second year that I’m doing it so I’m making it bigger and better than last year. Right now, there are drop off locations in Broward and West Palm Florida, Westbury, New York, Nashville, Tennessee, and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania for those who want to donate school supplies. The locations can be found on my Instagram at iamjessica_saintgeorges and on my Facebook at Jessica Saint Georges. I believe in helping our own, but I believe in giving back to anyone who’s in need so I’m in the works of possibly doing a give away in Jamaica as well. I should have more information soon, just working out some details. I have found my purpose in life and that’s to be who I was born and created to be…Be a voice for the voiceless, give back to my community, and to excel in anything and everything that I put my mind to.

CLICK HERE TO FOLLOW JESSICA’S JOURNEY AND SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP NOSA!

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE INTERVIEWS AND ARTICLES ABOUT BEAUTY QUEENS OF HAITIAN DESCENT!

Sexual abuse is ugly. It’s no wonder no one wants to talk about the matter, and when it is talked about, codes are used, voices come down to a whisper. Growing up in a Haitian-American household, Vie Cine (Ciné) suffered sexual abuse. Years later, she’s written Memoirs of A Forgotten Child, an autobiography that she hopes will help others who have experienced sexual trauma know that there are better days ahead of them.

Kreyolicious: When you set out to write your book, were there times when you had qualms about the subject matter?
I had qualms before writing Memoirs of a Forgotten Child. I felt like most people; my life is private and that it’s no one’s business. Also, I didn’t want to offend my family, but as I committed to telling my truth, I didn’t focus so much on what anyone closely related to me had to say but more so on the impact that my story would have. It’s kind of a double edge sword. You want to be as authentic as you can, but you don’t want to delve into too much information were you reveal certain conversations, events, or stories that may not benefit the flow of the story or it’s not your story to tell. Having a set structure on what I wanted to share and how much I wanted to share kept the story grounded as to the purpose of Memoirs of a Forgotten Child. This book isn’t an exposé book to besmirch anyone or to be used as propaganda to disparage Black people.

Kreyolicious: Memoirs of a Forgotten Child is the title of your book. Rather interesting. How did you come up with it?
I was thinking of a name that accurately summed up my life from 0-13. At the time I discovered a YouTuber named Issa Rae and was trying to do a spin-off title of her webisode series Awkward Black Girl, but it didn’t form well. I felt forced and complicated. I told myself in due time I’ll figure it out. It’ll just come to me. Fast forward to roughly six months…I was talking to an associate who asked me about the synopsis of my book. I described Memoirs of a Forgotten Child as “a memoir based on my life”—because as a child—I was forgotten.” Then it came to me like a brightly-lit light bulb representing a brilliant idea. Memoirs of a Forgotten Child became the book’s title.

Kreyolicious: What reaction have you gotten thus far from readers?
From the excerpts I shared on Instagram and Facebook many readers felt empowered by Memoirs of a Forgotten Child because they could see themselves in my story regardless of gender and race. One woman commented on a post that I was telling her story. That’s what I wanted to get across that we all may have different backgrounds, but we all faced the same result, trauma. I didn’t want people to get wrapped up in the characters, conversations, and grammar but more so on the events that took place along with how it affected my upbringing as a survivor.

Above: Vie Ciné on her way on the road to healing…

This concludes PART ONE of the interview with the author…LOOK OUT for PART II! Meanwhile, if you know someone who grew up in the Haitian-American community (or any other community for that matter), can you please direct them to this article?

CLICK HERE to learn more about Vie Cine!| CLICK HERE to purchase her book | CLICK HERE to check out her videos on Youtube!

Born in Boston and raised by a single woman in a Haitian-American household, Vie Ciné suffered sexual abuse while still a little girl. After years of hurting inside, she decided to make her trauma public by writing Memoirs of A Forgotten Child. Through this autobiography, she’s not only allowing herself to heal, but is helping hundreds of readers through their own healing and awareness process. Ciné holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology, a credential whose helpfulness grows each day, as she participates in sexual trauma awareness in her community and beyond. She’s also a vlogger, and through her VieIsMe vlog, she discusses everything from pedophilia to recognizing psychopaths and stalkers.

This is the concluding part of the interview with the activist and sexual abuse speaker. CLICK HERE to read PART ONE.

Kreyolicious: What reaction have you gotten thus far from readers?
From the excerpts I shared on Instagram and Facebook, many readers felt empowered by Memoirs of A Forgotten Child because they could see themselves in my story regardless of gender and race. One woman commented on a post that I was telling her story. That’s what I wanted to get across that we all may have different backgrounds, but we all faced the same result, trauma. I didn’t want people to get wrapped up in the characters, conversations, and grammar but more so on the events that took place along with how it affected my upbringing as a survivor.

Kreyolicious: Will you be writing a follow-up to your book?
Yes! I plan to write a part two to Memoirs of A Forgotten Child—but from the ages of 14 to 23. In that book, there will be a lot more grittiness, rebellion, outspokenness, and a journey through healing. The book will add an additional 180-degree view to complete the scope of my story. I want the reader to understand that everyone has a story. We may do bad things as good people, but that doesn’t make us bad. You might interface with a person and have a horrible experience and write that person off as heartless but until you know that person’s journey through life you’re only speaking from a glimpse of that person. The human experience in itself has a whole lot of gray but from that gray, there are learning experiences that shape us into the people we are today. It helps us become more empathetic to this thing called life.

Kreyolicious: Knowing all you know now, what would you say to that little girl you used to be?
I would say to her everything will play out like it’s supposed to but you’ll conquer. You’ll end up being the person you always wanted to be. Trust in yourself first and foremost! Self-love is the best love, I promise. Get to know you, and then fall in love with you. Never let anyone make decisions for you or influence you. The journey will be so hard, but you have to keep on walking because kujichagulia won’t let you stop. That innate drive to want more, do more, and escape the reality that you live in won’t stop. There will be times where you think of ending your life, but you won’t. There will be times where you act out from emotions and rebellion you’ll find clarity and humility. Often you’ll be alone, but you’re not lonely. A few times you’ll feel out of control and crazy, you’ll eventually rein your destiny. That shock-to-the-heart-feeling that makes you feel like you have stomach pains in your heart—that’s called intuition…use it wisely especially with males. Stay focused on becoming a better you and not a better person for someone else’s perception of you. Live, I mean absolutely, positively live. Do things. Go places. Read books. Search things. Google is your friend. Speak your mind. It might be scary at first, but soon as the adrenaline rush evens out, you’ll be great at it. It’s okay not to be fine at times, but it’s not okay to say that you are fine when you’re not. Let your emotions be known. Friends come and go, let them—but use the gift of discernment the next time. Patience is a virtue, not just a saying. And whatever happens, know that it won’t be for long, and you’ll always get through it because you’re you, unbreakable, unshakable, undeniable Vie Ciné.

CLICK HERE to learn more about author Vie Cine!| CLICK HERE to purchase her book | CLICK HERE to check out author Vie Ciné on Youtube!