Cheyenne Bryant: the Mental Health Issue We Aren’t Discussing
The Cheyenne Bryant fiasco has ignited a conversation around mental health, social capital, and licensure, but not in the way that you might think. For the uninitiated, Bryant went viral after an interview with Cam Newton, and later with an interview on the Joe Budden Podcast. She branded herself as a therapist with multiple doctorate degrees. However, she has been unwilling or unable to verify her credentials.
For psychologists, psychiatrists, licensed therapists, the matter has been abhorrent. If an unlicensed individual leads others to believe they are licensed, and gives mental health advice under false pretense, wouldn’t that be illegal and dangerous? Why would anyone build a platform on being a therapist, go on major platforms and claim to have a doctorate degree, yet be unwilling to prove their bona fides?
Social Capital and Expertise
For many people, the issue is a case study in the dangers of assuming those with social capital are experts. Not everyone with a large platform is credible.
This situation has led to conversations around the ethics of care and the importance of licensure, especially for marginalized communities. But what’s been missing from the dialogue are the ways in which our lack of attention to mental health could impact our brand and long-term viability.
A lot of people think about career success in terms of technical mastery, relationship cultivation, and a degree of luck. But if you want sustainability in any profession, you’d be well served to simultaneously work on the technical aspects of your career, as well as your mental health.
Mental Health and Shame
Failure to tend to our mental health, to issues of shame (possibly rooted in childhood trauma), can create a life of attempting to prove we are worthy. I’m not a therapist, but I would imagine that failing to address underlying shame issues could lead to needing excessive affirmation. Could that lend itself to fabricating or stretching the truth? You’d have to consult with a licensed mental health professional for the answer.
To be clear, I do not know if Cheyenne Bryant is telling the truth, but her response to questions around her credentials is concerning. She has given profanity-laced and defiant responses. This doesn’t inspire confidence.
If Bryant indeed lacks a doctorate degree, the question is ‘why did she say otherwise?’ If Bryant has never been licensed, yet calls herself a therapist, the question is ‘why?’
Would a person cosplay as a therapist out of their own wounds? I’ll never know, and the answer doesn’t matter. The lesson for you and me, is that tending to our mental health isn’t optional. It is as important as the work we’re aiming to carry out. It may sound cliché, but we can only go as far as our mental health will allow.
If you want a strong brand, focus on caring for yourself first. And if you’re in a crisis and need public relations support, schedule a consultation via our website.
Jennifer R. Farmer is the principal of Spotlight PR LLC. Check out all blog posts and subscribe for regular communications updates.