Celebrity Therapist Dr. Jeff Rocker Featured at the BET Awards
The lights are low, the décor twinkling, and the air is buzzing with anticipation. This is the 2021 BET Awards, and many of the world’s biggest contemporary icons are about to take to the stage. Between the dazzling celebrities — keen eyes spot DJ Khalid to one side, Queen Latifah on another — sits Dr. Jeff Rocker, aka “The Celebrity Therapist”.
To some, it might seem a little strange to find a therapist on the guest list of this prestigious annual awards ceremony, but there’s a reason why Dr. Rocker’s presence couldn’t be more on-point. Laced through the line-up of this year’s unfolding events — and circling the ceremony’s central theme, the Year of the Black Woman — is a collection of voices who have all spoken up about the importance of mental health.
Black culture is in the midst of a powerful and specific shift towards empowerment and away from stigma when it comes to balancing the mind, and Dr. Jeff Rocker goes shoulder to shoulder with all in the spotlight who are helping to move that needle. Representing black doctors at the BET Awards serves as the perfect extension of this rock star-esque mental health maestro’s everyday mission. Read on to place the work of Dr. Rocker — and this growing movement — firmly on your radar!
A Celebrity Therapist Making Waves in the Realm of Mental Health
For those meeting him for the first time, there’s no doubt that Dr. Jeff Rocker carries a contagious positive energy around with him — kept company by a sharp alertness and engaging warmth that create the sense that anything is possible. For the Dr. himself, it seems that no ambition is off-limits when it comes to building a mental health space that all can step into.
The Celebrity Therapist established his moniker through collaboration with a range of high-profile clients from the movie, music, and entertainment industries, alongside athletes from the NFL, NBA, and MLB. Although, his work doesn’t stop there. The doctor’s therapeutic services also span community outreach, support for troubled teens, addiction therapy, educational lectures, innovative couples therapy, encouraging work-life balance, and philanthropy — most notably through his own How We See It non-profit organization, which aims to break taboos around therapy within minority communities.
Sinking back into the glamorous scene at the 2021 BET Awards, glorious recognition for Megan Thee Stallions’ incredible past year is manifesting, with no less than four awards including Best Female Hip Hop Artist. The ceremony is hosted by Taraji P. Henson, who recently shared an intimate moment with the multi-award-winner on her Facebook Watch series Peace of Mind With Taraji.
Speaking frankly with the BET Awards host about the loss of her parents, Megan said, “I feel like right now mental health is more important to me, more than ever,” before continuing, “So now I’m like ‘Oh, my gosh, who do I talk to? What do I do?’ And I just started learning that it’s okay to ask for help. And it’s okay to want to go get therapy.”
The Rise of Hip Hop Therapy
Another name making a big impression at the 2021 BET Awards is of course Lil Baby — with the night drawing three nominations and a win for Best Male Hip Hop Artist. Over the course of the Covid-19 pandemic, Lil Baby has made a point of highlighting an important message, urging fans to “protect your mental health”. Performing at the AMAs in November 2020, the Atlanta rapper transformed the performance of his single Emotionally Scarred into a theatrical therapy session, as he sang from a brown leather armchair, while a woman portraying a therapist took notes on the stage.
As creatives like Lil Baby increasingly use their platform to dismantle barriers to self-care, Dr. Jeff Rocker has been harnessing hip hop to deliver therapy directly. Through his workshops, called Hip Hop Therapy, the Celebrity Therapist provides students with a safe space to express their emotions, in a format that truly resonates. Drawing on his own musical background, Dr. Rocker encourages attendees to develop lyrical release of their experiences, emotions, and concerns.
Stars Normalizing Making Mental Health a Priority for Everybody
Of course, there is one more of the evening’s BET Awards winners who has been putting mental wellness on the map for young people. Taking the award for Sportswoman of the Year, Naomi Osaka has made a big impression in terms of being bold enough to make psychological well-being a priority.
The 23 year-old tennis star recently made headlines for refusing to speak to reporters at the French Open, citing protection of her mental health. Supporters around the world rallied to Osaka when tournament officials punished her with a $15,000 fine, triggering her decision to pull out of the tournament altogether. Osaka has also added her voice and presence to recent protests over police brutality and racial inequality. Beyond being a shining light in showing young people what can be achieved with determination, Osaka demonstrates agency when it comes to speaking up and putting mental health first.
As it does every year, the 2021 BET Awards culminates with the Lifetime Achievement Award, and Dr. Jeff Rocker looks on as Queen Latifah rises from her seat and takes to the stage. Her moving speech emphasizes the importance of family and friendships — of support networks and the magic that happens when people stand together and elevate each other, rather than standing apart.
Queen Latifah is yet another star who has been vocal about how going to therapy allowed her to heal, and helped her to develop new skills for navigating life successfully. Partnering with global health service company Cigna — whose model aims to make health care simple, affordable, and predictable — Queen Latifah has also strived to dispel the idea that therapy is something that is only accessible to a wealthy few. Her message is that mental health support should be available to all, and everyone should feel empowered to reach out for help when they need it.
Mental Health at the Heart of the BET Awards
Having only touched upon the many ways in which mental well-being is entering the core vocabulary of contemporary black culture, the picture becomes clear that something would be amiss if this area wasn’t represented at the annual BET Awards. For Dr. Jeff Rocker, this year’s awards ceremony serves as an additional stepping stone towards reaching a larger audience, and making an even more powerful positive impact.
Ever humble, the Celebrity Therapist took to social media to express his gratitude for the opportunity to be featured at the BET awards — before moving on to an appearance at the 2021 Urban Film Festival in a panel discussing the Depiction of Mental Health in the film industry.
Throughout, there is a sense that the best is yet to come. Alongside his broad-spectrum therapeutic work, Dr. Rocker has also established Rocker Management, which — among a range of other on-the-pulse services — aims to help other mental health professionals build their personal brand and position themselves for further reach. As the continuing challenges of inequality and the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic intersect, we find ourselves within a cultural moment that calls out for those illuminating the path to a better tomorrow. If Dr. Jeff Rocker has anything to say about it, the only way from here is up, so give that man a mic.
