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At Cheerful Heart Mental Health Counseling PLLC, I provide specialized support for BIPOC women navigating chronic illness and medical trauma through a faith-affirming, trauma-informed lens. Using evidence-based approaches such as EMDR, ACT, and PE, I help clients process medical trauma, faith distress, anxiety, depression, and the emotional and relational impacts of chronic conditions. My practice bridges medical and emotional care with deep compassion, offering faith-based options for those who wish to draw on their spiritual beliefs in the healing process.
Why Choose Cheerful Heart?
✅ Black Christian therapist with lived experience of medical trauma
✅ Faith integration without spiritual bypassing
✅ EMDR, ACT & trauma-informed care
✅ EMDR Groups via Endo Kin Collective
✅ Multi-state licensure (NY, CA, NJ, PA, SC)
Personalized, Evidence-Based Care
Every therapy experience is tailored to your unique needs using proven approaches such as EMDR, ACT, and PE to support meaningful and lasting growth.
Compassionate Support for Mind + Body
We honor the connection between physical and emotional health, helping you navigate the challenges of chronic illness and medical trauma with understanding and care.
Faith-Integrated Healing
For clients seeking spiritual connection, we offer faith-based counseling and faith-informed EMDR to nurture healing grounded in both faith and evidence-based practice.
Real Stories of
Transformation + Recovery
Shakira is helping me with self discovery and identifying ways to help me be more assertive and address situations head on. I am enjoying this process of unlearning certain traits that I have adapted over the years and changing my perspective on certain topics as well. Looking forward to updating Shakira on the progress I have made and some setbacks along the way.
Cheerful Heart Client - California
My therapist has been amazing so far! She listens to me and pays attention to areas I need to work on and provides great feedback and amazing tools in order for me to reach where I want to be. She creates a safe place for me to express myself and when I leave her sessions I come out feeling a little more stronger then I was before. I’m grateful to her.
Cheerful Heart Client - New York
Shakira is an Amazingly Empathetic, Passionate and Caring Therapist. She has expertise in working with those who struggle with Endometriosis but exudes sincerity and wisdom that will make any person from all walks of life feel safe, secure and comfortable.
Peaceful Pathways PLLC - Plattsburgh, NY
I’m incredibly grateful for my time with Shakira. She is remarkably easy to talk to in how she creates a safe and comfortable space where I feel truly heard and understood. Her culturally sensitive and trauma-informed approach has been invaluable, allowing me to feel respected and seen in all aspects of my identity. She explains treatment concepts clearly and memorably, which helps me feel empowered and engaged throughout my healing process. Her professionalism and receptiveness make each session feel productive and meaningful. I would highly recommend her to anyone seeking compassionate, culturally aware, and effective therapy.
Cheerful Heart Client - New York
I enjoy my sessions with Shakira as they are very enlightening and helpful. I’ve been truly blessed by her guidance and resources over the years.
Cheerful Heart Client - California
Shakira has been my favorite therapists for far, if I ever needed services again, I would definitely go back to her!! So caring, relatable, and gave me the consistent conversation I was looking for. She taught me how to self-soothe as well as other things that have helped me in the long run to come down from spiraling thoughts such as pausing, talking it out, going to the gym. Shakira was always there when I needed her🤍
Former Cheerful Heart Client - New York
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