Dr. Cheyenne Bryant, Legitimacy & The Black Therapist
Watching the recent discourse surrounding Dr. Cheyenne made me reflect on the complicated relationship many people now have with legitimacy, trust and healing professions. On one hand, I understand why people care deeply about credentials and safety mechanisms within mental health spaces. People have been harmed by institutions before. Many people distrust medical systems, therapeutic systems and authority itself, sometimes for very legitimate reasons. That distrust can then
12 hours ago3 min read
What Amy Winehouse Understood About Pain
It has been nearly 20 years since Back to Black was released, yet the album still feels emotionally current. Most music ages with trends. Amy Winehouse’s music aged with human pain. When I listen to Amy Winehouse, I do not hear someone trying to impress the public or chase what was cool at the time. I hear someone processing heartbreak, loneliness, addiction, longing, shame, fear, and emotional confusion in real time. Her music feels less like performance and more like emotio
1 day ago4 min read
Positive Affirmations for Black Christian Men
I am never alone. The Lord Jesus Christ walks with me in every season. “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5 As a Black man, I am fearfully and wonderfully made by the Creator of the heavens and the earth. “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14 My life is purposeful, meaningful, and important. Even when I do not see the full path, God is ordering my steps. “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights i
Mar 242 min read
Digital Detox: Will You Join Me?
There is something I have been learning, both as a social worker and as a man of faith. My attention is not neutral. It is being shaped, pulled, and, if I am being honest, taken. During my MSW at York University, I took a course with Dr. Renita Wong called Mindfulness and Just Relations. One of the practices that stayed with me the most was the digital detox. I came to understand it as a way of reclaiming my attention, my body, and my spirit. If I am honest, I have often used
Mar 242 min read
Dear Daddy: Unhealed Fathers, Generational Trauma, and the Silence in Black Families
Introduction When people think about abuse, they often imagine bruises, broken bones, or visible injuries. Physical violence leaves evidence that the world can see. Psychological abuse, however, often leaves no visible scars. In many families, particularly in West African and Caribbean homes where respect for elders and parental authority is strongly emphasized, harmful behaviour can sometimes be overlooked, minimized, or explained away. Children may be taught from a very you
Mar 173 min read
What Our Communities Need From the Black Church Today
The Black church has long been one of the most important institutions in our communities. It has shaped faith, culture, and family life for generations. Because of this influence, it is worth asking an honest question. What do our communities need from the Black church today? Acknowledging Mental Health One important step is acknowledging mental health. Many people carry anxiety, depression, and trauma that are rarely discussed in church spaces. Faith and therapy do not need
Mar 152 min read
Why Nicki Minaj Triggers Strong Psychological Reactions
As someone who has followed Black media and Hip Hop culture for many years, I remember the early stages of Onika Maraj's career before she became widely known in mainstream entertainment. I watched her beginnings before much of the wider music industry recognized her. At the time, I often told friends that she would rise to the top. Some did not believe me, but today her influence in music and popular culture is undeniable. Nicki Minaj has become such a significant cultural f
Mar 133 min read
