Meet Mercedes Tiggs, LCSW | Licensed Clinical Social Worker & Culinary Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mercedes Tiggs, LCSW and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mercedes, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Although Eight16 was put on my heart years a go it was physically birthed during the Covid-19 pandemic. I found myself captive in my one bedroom apartment experiencing anxiety, grief, and depression. I was forunate enough to bring myself out of the rut by implementening weekly goals and cooking was one of them. I challenged myself to a new weekly recipe using items I had at home. As I continued to cook I realized the therapeutic power of food: It is not only good for the stomach, food is good for the soul. I looked forward to the week and getting out of bed became a little easier. My thought process behind Eight 16 Culinary Therapy was developing a non-traditional therapy intervention. Cooking is therapeutic and has many healing aspects. I fused my passion for mental health and cooking to create a therapy practice that focuses on meals that heal.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Eight16 is a Culinary Therapy Program that provides individual and group therapy sessions while cooking a therapeutic meal in the kitchen. It’s a non-traditional approach to therapy. I am excited about the community collaborations i have been able to be apart of. I am also excited about the awareness of Culinary Therapy. It is a form of art therapy we practice and our daily lives. Eight16 would not exit without my business partner and best friends Otesha Bremond and Valinda Bowens. Valinda believed in me, we talked about the idea and potential names all the time. OT was the first person to tell me to go go for it and made sure she said it every week until I started my business plan. Overcoming imposter syndrome to start any job, plan, business, or project is real. I’ve always enjoyed contributing my ideas or thoughts on a team. I did not think or believe I needed “my own” therapy practice to do that. It wasn’t until I was reminded of my own licensure process that is was definitely necessary. I did not receive clinical supervision from women who looked like me or had similar life experiences. My community deserves to have clinicians that are reflective of them. It’s a different kind of feeling and level of understanding when your client affirms the reflectiveness, I see YOU. I believe I was given this gift to share with the world. My ancestors healed families through cooking. I would like everyone to know about Culinary Therapy, I would love to see it in schools for interventions or concentrations. Instead of detention send them to a culinary therapy cooking class.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

Sunset Kava: Goldenmilk Kava & Lavender Lemondade

Lola 55-Happy Hour and Cesar salad

Canada Steak Burger-Gyro and Tzatziki Sauce

City Heights: Great food spots and street  Vendors; LA style hot dogs and elote!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
First, Holy Spirit for planting the seed and God for nurturing the entire process.

Second,

Eight16, is the birthday of my grandmother Sarah Theresa Allen. My love and passion for cooking was birthed in her kitchen. I’ve been cooking with our family recipes ever since I could remember, and I often recall her words: “You have to get your hands dirty, taste as you go, and really put your heart and soul into the bowl.” This is for you, Granny.

Third,
My village, my family, my community, and my ancestors.

Website: https://www.eight16culinary.com

Instagram: Eight16CulinaryTherapy

Facebook: Eight16 Culinary Therapy

Other: TikTok: Culinarytherapist816