Sylvester Merritt, MS, LPC, CADC

In a society that emphasizes our unique differences, seeking out help and support continues to be stigmatized. Just as a tree cannot weather every storm that comes its way, neither can we, or should we, face life’s challenges on our own. As a Black, gay man from the South I’ve always been driven to help people learn how support informs us about our potential to access and achieve our goals. Awareness is the key. There is so much power in learning how our thoughts and emotions center not only our mental health, but through awareness we can learn about how our mental state affects our life in many ways. When we are cognizant of our emotions, we develop a deeper sense of self, and those perceptions of self can lead to growth in all aspects of life.