This guide shares insights from South Florida therapist Dr. Jameson Mercier, known as “The Haitian Therapist,” on why many Haitians and other Caribbean people avoid counseling, how stigma shapes their reactions to depression, sexual abuse, relationship problems, and domestic violence, and the key signs that it may be time to seek professional help instead of handling everything “in-house.”
Who Is “The Haitian Therapist”?
Dr. Jameson Mercier is a life coach, licensed clinical social worker (LCSW), and marriage and family therapist based in South Florida.
He is known in Haitian and Caribbean circles as “The Haitian Therapist” because he works at the intersection of clinical training and Haitian cultural experience.
Mercier’s background in social work and family therapy gives him a dual perspective: he understands psychological theory and evidence-based interventions, but he also understands the unspoken cultural rules many Haitian and Caribbean families live by.
Over the years, social work and family organizations have sought his expertise on topics such as immigrant families, Haitian culture, fatherhood, and relationships, and he has become a recognizable voice in South Florida media on relationships and mental health.
He and his wife, Herdyne, have shared relationship advice through a show called “The Power Couple” on Miami’s Hot 105, and he has been recognized by local media outlets, including the Miami Herald, for his work in social work and mental health advocacy.
Why Haitians and Other Caribbeans Often Avoid Therapy
Mercier explains that many people, regardless of culture, hesitate to seek professional help because they believe they should be able to handle their problems alone.
Some fear being judged, others do not want anyone to know they are struggling, and some see counseling as a sign of weakness instead of a form of care.
For many people of color, including Haitians and other Caribbean communities, counseling is often treated as a last resort rather than an early option.
Unless there is something visible and concrete at stake, such as housing, food, or legal consequences, families may not think of therapy until authorities, schools, or courts pressure them to seek help.
Within Haitian culture in particular, Mercier notes a persistent belief that only “crazy” people need counseling.
Even when someone is clearly in distress, the usual response is often prayer, church, or talking to a pastor rather than scheduling an appointment with a licensed therapist.
Because of these beliefs, many Haitian families try to keep problems “lakay” – inside the home – assuming that family, faith, and resilience alone must be enough.
When Handling Things “In-House” Is Not Enough
Mercier does not dismiss the power of family, faith, and community.
He acknowledges that some issues can be resolved privately when families have healthy communication skills, emotional awareness, and support.
However, he stresses that there are clear warning signs that problems have grown beyond what a family can safely manage on its own.
One key indicator is when daily functioning is seriously impaired.
If someone cannot sleep, has no appetite, or begins to rely on alcohol or substances just to get through basic routines, these are red flags that professional support is needed.
For example, if a person once drank socially with friends but now needs a drink just to start the day or to calm down every evening, Mercier sees that as a sign that deeper issues are present and deserve expert attention.
He encourages people to think of therapy the same way they think of visiting a doctor: some problems resolve with rest, but others require a trained professional to evaluate the cause and guide treatment.
Sexual Abuse in Haitian and Caribbean Communities
When asked about sexual abuse, Mercier is clear that it occurs more often in Haitian and other Caribbean communities than many people are willing to admit.
As in many cultures, the perpetrators are frequently family members or people very close to the family, such as trusted friends, neighbors, or community figures.
Victims are often frightened, confused, and unsure of how to name what happened to them, let alone whom to tell.
In some cases, survivors only realize years later that what they experienced as a child or teen was abuse.
For undocumented immigrants or those who do not speak English well, fear of deportation, language barriers, and distrust of authorities can make it feel as if there are no safe options at all.
Mercier notes that as more information about rights and resources reaches Haitian and Caribbean communities, there has been a slow but important shift toward reporting abuse and seeking help.
Still, silence remains a major obstacle, and he encourages families to take disclosures seriously, seek professional support, and protect victims rather than the abuser or the family’s reputation.
Depression and Mental Health: “Mwen Pa Pi Mal”
In many Haitian circles, the word “depression” is rarely used, even when people clearly show signs of it.
Instead, Mercier hears phrases like “Mwen pa pi mal” (“I’m not any worse”), “N’ap brase” (“We are hustling/struggling”), and “Pito nou lèd, nou la” (“Better to be ugly and alive”).
These sayings reflect a community that has survived political instability, poverty, migration, and loss, and that has learned to normalize hardship.
Mercier observes that many Haitians are used to neglecting their own emotional needs in order to provide for children, send money home, or simply survive.
Resilience and faith are a source of pride, but they can also make it difficult to admit when emotional pain has become too heavy to carry alone.
In his own practice, he does not see as many Haitian clients specifically for depression as one might expect, which he reads as a sign of under-recognition rather than an absence of suffering.
Many people in the community push through sadness, irritability, or exhaustion without stopping to ask why they feel that way or how long it has been going on.
Admitting that mental or emotional health might be in danger can feel, to some, like admitting that they are “crazy” – a label they are desperate to avoid.
Communication: The Lifeline of Therapy
For Mercier, communication is the lifeline of therapy.
Therapy is not about perfect words or scripted dialogue; it is about creating a safe space where people can speak honestly, even if what comes out is messy, angry, or confused.
Some clients begin very reserved, saying little and testing whether the therapist can be trusted.
Others may not be fully honest at first, which he still sees as useful information because it signals that there is more going on beneath the surface.
When working with couples, his first major goal is simply to get them talking to and about each other in a structured, guided way.
Once the real issues are named out loud—whether money, intimacy, parenting, in-laws, or unhealed past hurts—it becomes possible to work toward solutions.
Are Relationship Problems and Divorce “A Big Problem”?
Asked whether relationship problems and divorce are a major problem in the community, Mercier gives a nuanced answer.
On one hand, many of the issues couples face are common: balancing children’s needs, managing money on a limited income, caring for aging parents, or recovering from past betrayals.
On the other hand, what makes these challenges overwhelming are the unresolved personal and family issues people carry with them into the relationship.
If someone enters a marriage with unhealed wounds around money, parenting, or trust, everyday stressors can quickly become explosive.
Mercier emphasizes that not everyone breaks under these pressures; with communication, boundaries, and support, many couples navigate them successfully.
The real danger, he suggests, lies in ignoring lingering pain and never addressing the patterns that keep repeating from one relationship or generation to the next.
Domestic Violence: Myths, Pain, and Why People Stay
Domestic violence is another area where Mercier wants Haitian and Caribbean communities to move past silence and harmful myths.
He points out that while women are the majority of reported victims, men can also be abused, and their experiences should not be minimized.
Research and advocacy work consistently show that a significant share of women will experience domestic violence at some point in their lives, and he has heard many survivors speak about how long it took to recognize their situation as abuse.
Some victims grew up watching one parent abuse the other and came to see violence, extreme jealousy, or control as “normal” signs of love.
Ideas such as “If he’s not jealous, he doesn’t love you” or “He beats me because he’s crazy about me” reflect a deeply distorted understanding of what healthy love looks like.
Financial dependence is another powerful factor.
Many women stay because they have children, limited income, or no safe place to go, and they fear that leaving will make their children’s lives even harder.
Mercier also notes that abusers are often wounded people too, sometimes raised in dysfunctional homes where they never learned healthy ways to handle anger, fear, or insecurity.
Understanding their background is not the same as excusing the violence, and he is clear on one central message: domestic violence is never acceptable, and love is not supposed to hurt.
Stigma, Shame, and the Fear of Looking Weak
Another barrier Mercier sees is the belief that real adults, especially men, should be able to carry their own burdens without help.
In some families and neighborhoods, needing counseling is treated as proof that someone has failed or is too weak to handle life.
Seeking help can feel like public admission of defeat, and that shame keeps people suffering in silence.
Mercier challenges that idea directly.
He compares therapy to visiting a doctor for a checkup or procedure: people do it to stay healthy, not because they are cowards.
Some struggles can be managed with support from family, friends, and faith, but others truly require the skills of a trained professional who is bound by ethics and confidentiality.
Reframing therapy as an act of strength and responsibility, rather than weakness, is one of the cultural shifts he hopes to see in Haitian and Caribbean communities.
Signs It May Be Time to Talk to a Professional
Mercier encourages people to pay attention to specific warning signs rather than waiting for a crisis.
- Sleep and appetite have changed drastically for weeks, not just a few stressful days.
- Alcohol or other substances are now needed just to “get started” or feel calm.
- Arguments at home feel constant, and the same fights repeat without resolution.
- Thoughts about past abuse, loss, or trauma keep resurfacing and interfering with work, school, or parenting.
- A partner’s behavior feels frightening, controlling, or violent, even if it is excused as “just how love is.”
If several of these are present, or if loved ones express concern, that is often a sign that talking with a licensed mental health professional could help.
What Makes This Guide Different
- It centers the Haitian and Caribbean experience, including Creole expressions and cultural beliefs that often shape how people think about therapy.
- It draws on the lived clinical experience of a Haitian-born, South Florida–based therapist who works directly with immigrant families, couples, and survivors.
- It gives concrete examples of when “handling things in-house” may not be enough, rather than speaking about mental health only in abstract terms.
- It addresses difficult topics—sexual abuse, domestic violence, and depression—without blaming culture, while still naming cultural barriers to getting help.
FAQ: Therapy, Haitians, and Getting Help
Is therapy only for people who are “crazy”?
No. Therapy is for anyone who wants support coping with stress, trauma, relationship problems, or emotional pain.
Mercier’s work shows that many Haitian and Caribbean clients benefit from therapy even when they are highly functional in other areas of life.
Can prayer and church replace professional counseling?
Faith and prayer are powerful sources of strength and community, and they play a central role in many Haitian lives.
However, therapy offers structured tools, confidentiality, and specialized training that pastors and family members may not have, especially when dealing with abuse, trauma, or severe depression.
How can someone know if their relationship has become unhealthy?
Warning signs include constant fear of a partner’s reactions, control over money or movement, humiliation, threats, or any physical violence.
Jealousy, monitoring phones, and “jokes” that feel degrading are also red flags, even if they are excused as passion.
What if a person is undocumented or worried about authorities?
Many licensed therapists and community organizations serve immigrants, including those who are undocumented, and are required to protect client confidentiality within the law.
Local hotlines, immigrant advocacy groups, and community clinics can often connect people with low-cost or sliding-scale counseling in their language.
Does going to therapy mean someone is weak?
Mercier strongly rejects the idea that seeking help is a sign of weakness.
Choosing therapy is more like choosing a medical checkup or diagnostic test: it is a responsible step toward health, not an admission of failure.
How can someone support a friend or family member who needs help?
Listening without judgment, taking their concerns seriously, and gently encouraging them to speak with a licensed therapist are important first steps.
Offering to help find a Creole-speaking or culturally informed professional, or to sit with them during a first call, can make the process less intimidating.
Editorial Note
This piece is based on an in-depth conversation with Dr. Jameson Mercier about Haitian and Caribbean attitudes toward therapy, combined with publicly available information about his professional background and work as “The Haitian Therapist.”
It is intended for educational and cultural insight only and is not a substitute for personalized advice, diagnosis, or treatment from a licensed mental health professional who can assess an individual situation.
Readers familiar with Dr. Mercier’s more recent work, or with additional resources serving Haitian and Caribbean communities, are invited to share corrections or updates so that future versions can remain accurate and helpful.
If someone in your life could benefit from culturally informed support, consider referring them to a qualified professional such as The Haitian Therapist through Mercier Wellness & Consulting, or a trusted licensed therapist in your local area.
Last Updated on January 15, 2026 by kreyolicious
