"I can’t see 'em comin’ down my eyes, so I gotta make the song cry."

In this deeply moving episode, we lean into the silence behind the strength. Titled after Jay-Z’s Song Cry, we explore the emotional weight Black men carry—and the cost of never letting it show. I sit down with licensed counselor Rick Harrell for an honest, vulnerable conversation about mental health, masculinity, trauma, and healing in the Black community.

Why are so many Black men taught to suppress their emotions? What does it mean to show up for yourself when the world expects you to stay silent? And how can therapy become a tool—not a taboo?

Rick brings both lived experience and clinical insight to a dialogue that’s long overdue. This episode is about more than mental health—it’s about reclaiming the right to feel.

We could not do this justice in 10 minutes, so I am breaking this up into 2 episodes. Part 2 drops next week!

Guest Bio:

Richard (AKA) Rick Harrell Jr. is a native Memphian and proud graduate of The University of Memphis, where he majored in Criminal Justice and minored in Sociology. After earning his Bachelor of Arts Degree, Rick worked in the Criminal Justice System for 11 years as a probation officer, working with adult and teen offenders. Rick later continued his education and completed a Master of Science in Counseling Psychology. Rick also earned a second Master of Arts Degree in Human Resource Management. He is a licensed mental health provider in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Georgia, providing mental health services in all three states. Rick is currently a doctoral candidate at Freed-Hardeman University pursuing a Doctorate in Behavioral Health, where his research explores preventive approaches to Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in law enforcement officers, with an emphasis on early intervention and resilience-building following exposure to trauma.

Rick Harrell served as the Director of Employee Counseling for the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, responsible for providing mental health services to corrections, law enforcement, and civilian staff. During his tenure in Shelby County Government, Rick served as Shelby County Pretrial Services Administrator and later the Chief Inspector Administrator for the Shelby County Jail Mental Health Programs Division. Rick is now the CEO & Owner of RH Counseling & Consulting, an agency that provides behavioral health services to adolescents, adults, and families. He is also a published author of the book What You See Is What You Get, A Spiritual and Non-Traditional Perspective to Understanding Behaviors Within Relationships.

Contact Info: RH Counseling & Consulting 1331 Union Ave, Ste 1014Memphis, TN 38109Ph#: (901) 569-2103 or (901) 930-8418