Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Apex, NC covered by Cigna

Hey, I'm Kwanza. I graduated in 2020 from Johnson C Smith University with my Master's in social work. I have 4 years of experience working with children, adults, and families to overcome trauma.

I believe that my clients are the experts of their lives.

When holding space for clients, I provide a space where they can unpack their feelings, express their emotions, and develop skills to help them live a healthier life.

I believe therapy works best when there is a strong connection between therapist and client. My style is warm, genuine, and direct. I'll offer compassion and support, but I'll also help you recognize patterns that may be keeping you stuck.

As a trauma-informed therapist and EMDR specialist, I create a space where you can be yourself without judgment. Clients often tell me they feel comfortable with me quickly because I show up as a real person—not just a therapist.

I believe healing happens through both insight and action. My goal is to help you feel more grounded, confident, and empowered to create meaningful change in your life.

Hi, I’m Jamelia Shahid-EL a LCMHC and school counselor with 10+ years of experience. I offer affirming, down-to-earth therapy for children navigating anxiety, identity, burnout, and life transitions. My space is inclusive, trauma-informed, and rooted in care.

I hold a Masters Degree in Social Work from the University of Tennessee and hold my clinical licensure in the state of North Carolina. I have spent much of my career serving those at end of life and also have experience assisting caregivers, those in transitional phases of life, and those who are bereaved. As a mother, I am invested in the wellness of all mothers and women and feel deep appreciation for the way mothers show up for countless others before themselves. I look forward to learning how I can walk alongside you in this journey.

I hold a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a master’s degree in Conflict Studies and Dispute Resolution from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. I also hold a master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy/Counseling, with honors of distinction from Capella University. I am a trained mediator who loves the opportunity to allow clients to be exactly who they are, while they figure out who they want to be.

I believe everyone deserves to experience the joy and peace that comes from healing. If you're feeling stuck in darkness, weighed down by past experiences, or caught in negative thought patterns, you're not alone—and you don't have to navigate it by yourself.

For more than 34 years, I've helped individuals, primarily women, heal from trauma, build self-esteem, and create meaningful, lasting change. I have advanced training in EMDR and specialize in helping clients process traumatic experiences so they can move forward with greater confidence and emotional freedom.

My approach is holistic, recognizing the connection between your mind, body, and emotions. Together, we'll create a safe, supportive space where you feel heard, understood, and empowered to reach your therapy goals. My hope is to help you move beyond simply surviving so you can fully experience the joy, fulfillment, and life you deserve.

I earned my Masters in Social Work, and am licensed as a Clinical Social Worker. I also earned a Masters in Science in Hospice and Palliative Studies. I started this degree in Michigan, but I did my internship after I moved here in the Bereavement Department of Four Seasons Hospice in Flat Rock NC. I have continued to learn through Continuing Education. I am a lifelong learner, so I continue to learn and to teach and utilize what I have gained with clients in session. I have trained extensively in Mindfulness, Self Compassion, Compassion Focused Therapy, Grief and Loss, and Death and Dying, and Non Violent Communication. I am also trained in and utilize Cognitive Behavior Therapy, Solution Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing.

In my past position of working as clinical Therapist, a large part of my clientele was working with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, Communication, and focusing on working with women primarily. I would like to continue to with that focus. In the past I also worked with children and families with Intensive In Home, and people who were homeless, primarily women, with ABCCM. I learned a lot through these experiences that benefit me with my current work.

I enjoy empowering clients with ADHD to understand their gifts and strengths, and to learn ways to feel supported with the struggles of living with ADHD, by learning new coping skills, psycho education, to gain new insights, and feel stronger within themselves.

I have focused much of my clinical enjoy working with women, especially older women, guiding them toward fierce compassion, along with re-creating themselves as they are grow in strength and feel their possibilities in a new way.