Providing healing from the head down
- Dr. S
The saying above - providing healing from the head down - has a two-fold meaning. First, I believe everything starts with the head (or the mind). From your mind, comes the thoughts, beliefs, and subsequent behaviors and actions that you eventually demonstrate. Secondly, in both my personal and professional life, I have become aware that pastors and spiritual leaders often don't have a "safe space" to receive counsel for their extremely difficult positions and/or support for their own mental health.
Because of these two things - that our "stuckness" typically starts in the mind and that pastors/spiritual leaders need healing too - my goal as your therapist or Life Strategist is to assist pastors, leaders, professionals, and lay people, who are struggling with unidentified, unexposed, and unresolved trauma, so they can achieve personal, professional, and spiritual freedom. ​​
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Everyone is different, so how your "stuckness" presents may vary. Perhaps it's feeling like your drowning emotionally; feeling stuck or unmotivated at work or home; procrastinating without a clear plan; having emotions such as unresolved grief & trauma; or feelings of church hurt... Basically, nything that is causing you to NOT move forward the way that you would like. Because of these feelings, you need help. And my role is to help build a bridge from where you are currently to where you'd like to be.
You may wonder: why choose me? In a time where the terms therapist, counselor, and coach are often used interchangeably, I assure you there are important differences. I am formally trained as a social worker (BSW & MSW), am a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) for over 20 years, been in private practice three times, received my PhD in 2013 from the number one School of Social Work in the nation, and have taught budding social workers for nearly 12 years. I don't share this to brag; simply to let you know that if you choose to work with me, you are gaining an accomplished, qualified, and well-trained individual. I promise to utilize all my expertise, knowledge, and skill sets to help you make the shift from stuck to starting to success.
Whether it's a one-time meeting, or ongoing sessions, I provide information that is relevant to your presenting issue(s), while offering you essential tools, as well as tangible action steps, that can strategically assist you in moving forward. Depending on your needs, you have the option of me serving as your therapist or your Life Strategist. You can learn more by clicking either highlighted link.
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING

Dr. S has been a pivotal and instrumental part in my life in the year and a half that I have known her. She has walked with me through many stages of life in such a short time and has been a constant. Her
wisdom in mentorship is unmatched and her ability to plan and execute is the same. I want to thank her for being my sounding board personally, ministerially, and in business.
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-CT

Dr Sha-Lai is a true sister in Christ! After God spoke to me about putting on a conference, I was excited and overwhelmed about all the details. I knew Dr. S was doing many things of the sorts so I reached out not really even knowing her too well and asked for her help. She was there. She allowed me to pick her brain with all the questions. She talked to me about layout, format and things I probably wouldn’t have thought about. Not only did she help me in that way but she prayed for me, cheered me on, showed up the day of the conference to serve physically and spiritually! She is all around phenomenal!
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-HB

I had an exceptional experience working with Dr. Sha-Lai. Her expertise and guidance were instrumental in successfully completing the task at hand. Her insightful advice and prompt communication made the entire process smooth and efficient. I greatly appreciate her dedication and would highly recommend her services to anyone seeking professional assistance.
- AM