About Cheerful Heart Mental Health Counseling PLLC
Cheerful Heart was created to offer the kind of care women rarely find. Care that allows women of color to show up as their full and authentic selves. Whether that’s the professional woman struggling with endometriosis or the minister caring for a congregation while feeling empty and resentful, this practice was made for you. Many of the clients I work with are capable and used to being the one others rely on. They are also living with chronic illness, trauma, or tiredness that cannot be alleviated with vacations or time away.
At Cheerful Heart, you will find:
- Therapy that leaves room for your faith to be part of your sessions
- A pace that respects what your nervous system can actually handle
- Room to ask the questions you may feel ashamed to ask about God and life
- A clinician who has lived what you may be going through and understands deeply
This is a place where you and the pain that you carry are seen and respected.
Meet Shakira K O'Garro
I am Shakira K. O'Garro, a licensed psychotherapist and endo sister. Living through severe Stage IV endometriosis, medical trauma, and a faith challenged by chronic pain, I founded Cheerful Heart to be the therapist I once needed and could not find. I work with women who feel overwhelmed, overlooked, or disconnected because of chronic illness, trauma, or a crisis of faith. I know how heavy it is to carry pain while still being needed by everyone else.
I'm a Bronx native with over 10 years of experience in the mental health field in Westchester County. I'm passionate about endometriosis advocacy and education for Black women, who are often diagnosed late and left to suffer with limited support or resources. To support these efforts, I've worked with multiple endometriosis organizations such as Endo Black and the Endometriosis Foundation of America.
Always ready with a scripture reference, a resource, a book recommendation, or a devotional, I pride myself on being resourced and equipped to support and foster real relationships with my clients. I am deeply genuine, which helps others to stop pretending as well. Clients often tell me it feels like talking to a big sister or close friend, the kind who sees what you've been carrying in silence and names it with you.
When I'm not in the role of healer, I love to laugh and travel. My favorite place on earth is Japan, and I've been twice (fingers crossed for trip number three in 2027). I love fashion and am the unchallenged best friend of my four-year-old niece (yes, she crowned me with the title and I take it seriously). I love cats and have two, Riri and Goldie, who are a blessing and a curse at times.
In our work together, I focus on creating a space where you can be honest and receive the care you so readily give others.
Credentials and Professional Background
- Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC-D)
- Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)
- Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC)
- National Certified Counselor (NCC)
- EMDR Trained with advanced training in Medical Trauma, PMDD, Complex Trauma, and Chronic Pain
- Advanced training in trauma-focused therapies, including Prolonged Exposure
- Licensed in NY, NJ, PA, SC, CT, and CA
I am committed to continuing education so I can provide effective and ethical care for women of color.
My Therapeutic Philosophy
I believe that, despite the pain we experience in life, we can cultivate a cheerful heart. Grounded in Proverbs 17:22 (A cheerful heart is good medicine), I infuse our sessions with humanness, compassion, and humor to promote safety, transparency, and trust. Therapy with me or one of my clinicians feels collaborative, respectful, and grounded. You were not meant to be strong all the time. You can come undone and still be the capable one, and you deserve real attention and care, too.
My approach is:
- Trauma-informed and person-centered
- Compassionate and humane care
- Therapy built on safety and trust
- Adapted to your individual needs and pace
We move at a pace that is tailored to you, manageable, and sustainable.
Faith-affirming and Trauma-Informed Approach
I use a combination of evidence-based and experiential approaches to support both emotional and physical healing.
This may include:
- Faith-based or Christian counseling
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Prolonged Exposure
Areas of Focus
I work with adult women living with:
- Endometriosis, Adenomyosis, and PMDD
- Chronic illness and chronic pain
- Medical trauma and medical gaslighting
- Faith and spirituality struggles, including church hurt, crisis of faith, and doubting God
- Trauma, CPTSD, and PTSD
- Women's identity and life transitions
- Stress, burnout, and emotional overwhelm
- Therapy for therapists
You do not have to figure this out by yourself, in a Google search at 2 am.
What You Can Expect in Therapy
In sessions with me (or with one of my clinicians), you do not have to be the strong one. You just have to be willing to be honest. That is where the real work begins.
You can expect:
- A space where you do not have to perform
- A focus on your goals, your story, and your pace
- Evidence-based tools to help you process trauma, regulate your nervous system, and manage stress
Sessions are available in person in White Plains, NY, and virtually across NY, NJ, PA, CT, SC, and CA.
Press/Features
I am proud to be recognized as an expert contributor for EndoFound, where I shared insights on the intersection of mental health and endometriosis.
You can watch my panel interview on Endometriosis and Mental Health and read my feature on advocacy and community care on EndoBlack.
I was recently featured as a guest expert on the Christians with Chronic Illness podcast to discuss faith-based healing through Endometriosis & Medical Trauma.
I shared clinical insights as a guest expert on the Medical Trauma Support podcast, discussing the complexities of navigating medical trauma and finding healing through community.
I also spoke about medical trauma and dissociation through a Community Conversation in the Befriend Your Body Community with Medical Trauma Support.
I am a featured contributor for SWIM blog, with a guest blog post focused on the spiritual impacts of navigating fibroids and reproductive health.
Upcoming Engagements
S.W.I.M. Clergy Care Retreat: Renewal for the Mind, Spirit & Mission
Hampton Inn Woodbury Commons
Register for the retreatSpeaking Engagements
- The Waiting Room: Endometriosis, Body Autonomy & Collective CareOctober 10, 2026 · Brooklyn, NY
- Perimenopause & Menopause: Mind, Body & BeyondSeptember 27, 2026 · Virtual
Let’s Connect
If you have read this far, something here probably resonated with you. If you have spent years being the strong one, this is the place to set the mantle down. Let's talk and see if we are a fit. I would be glad to figure it out with you.
📞 Call: (914) 214-7792
🖥️ Book Online: Book a Free 15-Minute Consultation
📩 Email: hello@cheerfulheartmhcpllc.com
