Aside from being able to style your hair for an upcoming event, Oak Park Barber Rashon Trice understands his and other Black barbers' impact on their communities.
Tapers Barbershop, where he’s worked for 24 years, is participating in a program that provides mental health support to Black men. In partnership with the Greater Sacramento Urban League, the shop hosts group therapy sessions inside barbershops, complete with licensed therapists. Organizers say the event series, called Cut to the Chase, fosters a sense of community, support and understanding among attendees, ultimately empowering them to address their mental health needs.
“Much more than haircuts go on in a barbershop,” Trice said. “This is sometimes [one of the only places] for a Black man to come in and have a conversation and feel valid.”
Historically, the barbershop has been a safe space for Black men. Mental health care resources and haircuts often do not exist in the same space, but combining the two makes it easier for those interested in participating in doing so, according to Capitol City Black Nurses Association member Aron King.
Community-based health programs offered where people naturally congregate, like this one, add comfort for those hesitant to seek mental health resources. By normalizing seeking professional help, the program challenges societal stereotypes and encourages participants to prioritize their mental well-being, King said.
An August report from the California Health Care Foundation found that nearly 47% of Black Californians reported poor treatment while seeking mental health services from doctors and healthcare providers due to their race. And one in four Black Californians reported having a mental health condition.
Stigma, traditional masculinity roles and societal expectations make it harder for Black men to access mental health resources. Many Black men still don't receive necessary care due to barriers to treatment and internalized behaviors often rooted in systemic racism, according to an Everyday Health 2021 report.
“We are really trying to bridge that area of access and bring them into a safe place,” King said.
Cut to the Chase provides ‘soft-serve’ of therapy amid stigma
Tapers Barbershop Rishon Trice (center) and participants pose after a completed event held in the local barbershop, Sacramento, Calif., Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2023.Tony Rodriguez/CapRadio
To provide better access to professional counseling for Black men — who often deal with disparities around the stigma impacting their decision to seek mental health resources — the Greater Sacramento Urban League, or GSUL, partners with Sacramento barbershops by hosting events in their spaces.
By encouraging open dialogue, communities can diminish the stigma associated with mental health conditions, said Dr. Troy Williams, Chief Impact Officer of the GSUL. This group session experience enables participants to get a taste and understand what therapy is like.
“What we try to do is help people realize that they’re going through a therapeutic process, and they don’t even realize they are,” said Ronnie L. Cobb, the senior director of partnerships for GSUL. “One of our biggest initiatives is to soft-serve what therapy is and remove the taboo.”
Cobb credited Williams as the inspiration behind the initiative: Cut to the Chase was inspired by a program Williams was familiar with from the East Coast, which brought health services to barber shops.
“What was important [in the planning of the program] was that we put certified professionals in there, that we weren’t just giving barbershop advice or barbershop chop,” Cobb said.” We wanted to have some people that were certified in these areas to help us navigate some of the dialogue.”
Licensed therapists facilitate each session, providing a topic of discussion while offering a safe space for men to discuss their feelings, experiences and challenges openly. Including diverse perspectives enriches these conversations, Cobb said, by bringing together individuals with varied life experiences and making the discussions more nuanced.
“The age range [of participants] is from a 2-year-old to an 80-year-old who is now our eldest,” Cobb said. “His [80-year-old] life experiences are different to some degree, but if he’s got nuggets [of information] that he shares, it helps us realize [that he has] been there and done that, and here is what you might want to consider in those scenarios.”
By allowing for open dialogue, communities can break down the stigma linked to mental health conditions, Williams said.
He added that a systemic issue the program is working to alleviate is a shortage of therapists for Black men and persistent stigma towards seeking mental health services.
“I recognize that this [program] is a temporary fix; this is a structural adjustment where people can temporarily gain access to therapy,” Williams said. “Our hope is that these types of services become more available throughout the city, throughout the state, and throughout the country, where this is normal."
Barbershops serve as gateway to community
Sacramento’s barbershops are a gateway for Black men to access mental health resources. Initiatives like Cut to the Chase have recognized barbershops' unique position within the community.
Still, not all barbershops and salons equip staff to handle Black hair, creating challenges in accessing appropriate grooming services.
“I recall my mother taking me for a haircut, sitting in the chair of a white barber, only to be told, ‘I'm sorry, I don't know how to cut your hair,’" said Trice, the Oak Park barber.
While barbers are not licensed therapists, a Black barber can offer shared life experiences and a welcoming atmosphere that fosters community, according to Bryant Howard, the program’s therapist and host of group therapy discussions.
“That’s what you want as a therapist when it comes to the environment you want to give your clients,” Howard said. “You want them to come into an environment where they can open up and speak freely, and that’s what the barbershop does.”
First-time "Cut to the Chase" program participant Michael Pace stands outside Tapers Barber Shop in Sacramento, Calif., after attending the group therapy session on Tuesday, Nov. 2, 2023.Tony Rodriguez/CapRadio
Through his career as a barber, Trice said he has learned to be a better listener for his clients, a quality he remembers from his experiences with his childhood Black barber.
"The things about you are validated [as a Black man in the barbershop]. The person in the chair is going through the same challenges I am,” Trice said. "It's a place to talk about the things we need to talk about. It's a place for [black men] to plot and plan.”
For Trice, this is a form of solace — sometimes he said he comes to work, and even while cutting hair, he can unwind. If he’s upset or having a bad day, giving someone a haircut makes him feel better.
“I go through it with them, talk to them, and they confide in me, and as soon as they get up, it's a handshake and a hug and wishing them well,” he said. “I wish peace upon them and send them on their way, and then there is the next person in their chair, and I’m getting ready to deal with their day.”
Expanding the program
Inspired by the program's success, Cobb said the GSUL has plans to expand Cut to the Chase by launching the service for women in Sacramento salons.
The strategic move into salons signifies a step forward, he said. Guided by insights from Cut to the Chase organizers, they plan to expand on the support already offered.
Cobb said the sessions are open to anyone, even those who prefer to listen and observe. The space is designed for the well-being of Black men, fostering an environment where they can openly express their thoughts and emotions.
“What we try to do is help people realize that they're going through therapeutic processes and don't even realize they are,” Cobb said.
Cut to the Chase is held on the first Thursday of every month at Tapers Barber Shop & Salon in South Sacramento and every second Thursday at Five Starr Fades in North Sacramento. More information about the program and its schedule can be found on the Greater Sacramento Urban League’s website.
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