On Sept. 11, Cleveland will host the kickoff of Bruh’s Healing Brothers, a new free series aimed at providing mental‑health resources to Black men in the city. The opening panel, titled “A Journey to Psychospirituality,” will be led by therapist and East Mount Zion Baptist Church deacon Jerome Cash, who will explore how faith intersects with purpose, emotional well‑being and resilience.
Community‑based therapy in a public setting
Cash explained that the series will move therapeutic techniques traditionally offered in private practice into community spaces. Licensed professionals will run small‑group breakout sessions in the months following the launch, teaching grounding strategies, EMDR (eye‑movement desensitization and reprocessing) and other evidence‑based methods for processing trauma.
“We’re bringing our modalities and interventions that we do in private practice and bringing them into the community,” Cash said. He noted that many who need help may never step into a therapist’s office, so making these tools publicly accessible is essential.
Addressing pressing concerns
The panel will field questions gathered from local residents. Topics already on the list include the rise in domestic violence, increasing suicide rates among young Black men, and how men handle emotions such as jealousy and rage. Cash emphasized a core question: “What has it cost Black men to be strong, to mask pain, to avoid vulnerability?”
While the event is rooted in a Christian worldview, Cash stressed that it is open to anyone, regardless of religious affiliation. “Spirituality doesn’t have anything to do with religion,” he said. “It’s just, how do you make meaning out of life? What’s your purpose?”
Support and fundraising
The Sept. 11 discussion is free, thanks to donations from Cuyahoga County Community College, the Greater Cleveland NAACP branch and Erie Bank. Cash continues to seek funds to sustain the breakout sessions planned for January and beyond.
Bruh’s Healing Brothers is partnered with the Washington Wellness Institute, which also offers yoga and Reiki healing. Cash’s prior community work includes facilitating sessions for Ghetto Therapy, collaborating with the “Peel Dem Layers Back” hip‑hop therapy program, and running a series called “Holding Space” for Black men.
Faith and mental health
Cash has spoken at churches about the stigma that can arise when prayer is presented as the sole solution to mental‑health challenges. “Even at church, there’s the stigma with Christians and other religions that prayer just works for everything. Prayer is the answer,” he observed, underscoring the need for professional support alongside spiritual practice.
He also recently launched NeuroXcel, a free monthly support group for neurodivergent adults, including those with ADHD and autism, further expanding the reach of inclusive mental‑health services.
Looking ahead
By bringing therapeutic tools into public spaces, Bruh’s Healing Brothers aims to empower Black men and their families to address mental‑health concerns without shame. The series reflects a growing movement in Cleveland to blend faith‑based community leadership with professional mental‑health care, offering a holistic path to healing.
Original reporting: Signal Cleveland — read the source article.
