Shackola Symons

My road to this career path was unexpected. There I was in college, checking off the boxes of my pre-determined career plans and life goals when I was hit with an unexpected and traumatic loss. I had always prided myself on being mentally and emotionally strong, but the loss I experienced shook my core and disrupted the happy bubble I was living in. My cultural upbringing reinforced internalizing emotions and just pushing through, however this time was different! I was encouraged by a friend to seek counseling at my university's counseling center and this encounter forever changed the trajectory of my life.

Sometimes the greatest lessons and purpose derives from our pain. Pain can be a trans-formative experience if we allow it to be. Since my own experience of receiving help in my time of need, I have dedicated my life to helping others navigate their painful and dark moments. I entered graduate school and became licensed as a Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) and have never looked back. Since 2011, I have provided assistance to individuals (children, adolescents, adults), couples and families on issues across the spectrum of human existence. I have worked in substance abuse treatment, psycho-social oncology where patients and families have been faced with their own mortality and loss, government agencies serving under-served populations, education and private practice. Whether it's managing life's every day stressors, coping with negative emotions, experiences and interactions, dealing with a mental health diagnosis, unpacking previous traumas or simply just having someone unbiased and objective to talk to. I am here to provide support. We all have a story to tell within us. We just need the right circumstances and environment for it to be uncovered. What's your story?

There is a connection between our thoughts and the impact on our emotions and vice-versa. In our time together we will be able to make connections between our thoughts and feelings both while in therapy and during your lived experiences outside of therapy. The goal is to be more intentional in how you manage your inner world and to feel empowered around the ability to enact change within your life.

I believe it is important to educate patients on the factors contributing to the challenges faced, this enhances an individual's ability to self-advocate as well as promotes self-acceptance. In utilizing psychoeducation, sessions focused on skills building.

Let's focus on the things you have done well so that we can enhance your self-confidence as well as affirm positive aspects of self and experiences. This aids in the ability to reflect on experiences and self-assessment in a different way.

Being trauma informed impacts my approach and level of awareness around individual traumas and working through some of those issues in a way that is not re-traumatizing.

First sessions are typically an opportunity to build rapport and to gather information on who you are and how you show up in your world. There will be no pressure to share more than you are ready to. It is an opportunity to assess your presenting concerns, goals for therapy and for you to also gauge your level of comfort in sharing and possibly working with me.