Meet Dr. Jameson Mercier of Mercier Wellness and Consulting in Broward County

Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Jameson Mercier.

Dr. Mercier, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and raised by my aunts and grandmother after my parents migrated to the states. At the age of 7, my parents sent for me and I joined them and my brother and sister in South Florida. Unfortunately, two years later my father died leaving my mother to raise three kids on her own.

This is perhaps the most influential time/moment in my life. This experience led me to take an interest in mental health and fatherhood. The reason for mental health is after the death of my father, we received a lot of emotional support from our church. However, the truth is we could have benefited from some professional help. To this day, almost 30 years later my mother still can’t talk about my father.

As it pertains to fatherhood, I was keenly aware of the void created by my father’s death. I vowed to do all I can to be present and active in the lives of my children. This led to my PhD and research exploring black fathers as primary caregivers.

In 2009, my wife and I started our private practice, Mercier Wellness, and Consulting, where we provide therapy and coaching to individuals and families/couples. I have a couple other projects Manfident™ which focuses on rewriting the script about manhood; and Dadfident™ which is about helping fathers be more confident in their roles.

Earlier this year my wife and I launched our weekly podcast, The Couples Counsel, where we talk about relationships and provide advice for some of the challenges couples face. As if that were not enough, we are in the process of launching a nonprofit, Family Wellness Services, where we plan to provide grant funded mental health services to families unable to afford it.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a journey filled with many challenges. My family has faced financial challenges that led to a bankruptcy. Like many families, we were impacted by the recession. My wife and I at one point did not see eye to eye and weren’t sure we’d make it. My kids were born while I was in my doctorate program and which posed some very unique challenges.

All this has taught me that the default mode of life is struggle. Many people think the default mode is to be stress-free, but that is a myth that we all buy into. There will always be struggle no matter how good your situation is.

Mercier Wellness and Consulting – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Doctor of Marriage and Family Therapy. In 2009, my wife and I started our private practice, Mercier Wellness, and Consulting, where we provide therapy and coaching to individuals and families/couples.

My specialties are couples and black fathers. I have a couple other projects Manfident™ which focuses on rewriting the script about manhood; and Dadfident™ which is about helping fathers be more confident in their roles.

As if that were not enough, we are in the process of launching a nonprofit, Family Wellness Services, where we plan to provide grant funded mental health services to families unable to afford it.

I am most proud of the work we’ve done in the community with minorities and mental health because they are less willing to seek therapy.

Tell us about your childhood, what were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was a quiet kid. I mostly observed and kept to myself. I was a skinny kid with glasses and played the clarinet, so not many parties for me…lol. I read a lot and wrote even more as aware to deal with insecurities I thought were unique to me. As it turns out, everyone in high school was insecure.

Pricing:

• 30 minute virtual consultations are free

Contact Info:

• Address: Mercier Wellness & Consulting
  7860 Peters Road Ste. F107
  Plantation, FL 33324
• Website: www.mercierwellness.com
• Phone: 954-372-5892
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dr.jamesonmercier/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DrJamesonMercier/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/JamesonMercier
• Other: www.mercierwellness.com/listen (The Couples Counsel Podcast)

Image Credit:
Dynamik Exposure

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