In-person therapy in White Plains, NY, and virtual sessions for women of color across NY, NJ, PA, SC, CT, and CA.
Somatic EMDR & Faith-Integrated Therapy for Women of Color in California
If you’re a Black or BIPOC Christian woman in California looking for a therapist who takes both your pain and your faith seriously — the kind of clinician who won’t tell you to just pray harder or lose weight — you’re in the right place.
So much of your life has been spent being the strong one. The one who holds it together, prays it through, and keeps moving even when the pain is overwhelming. Cheerful Heart Mental Health Counseling exists so you can finally rest and prioritize yourself. Founder Shakira K. O’Garro, LPCC, NCC, brings both over a decade of clinical experience and her own lived reality of Stage IV endometriosis, adenomyosis, and medical trauma. She built the practice she once needed to support you on your journey back to life.
Care reaches women by secure telehealth in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Sacramento, Oakland, San Jose, Long Beach, Fresno, and throughout California.
- Individual therapy for anxiety, depression, burnout, and hard seasons of transition — real clinical support built around your actual life.
- Chronic illness counseling with deep expertise in endometriosis, PMDD, adenomyosis, and autoimmune conditions.
- Somatic and EMDR therapy for medical trauma and PTSD, helping your body feel safe and trustworthy again. Faith-informed EMDR available.
- EMDR groups — including GREP2 for single Christians with dating anxiety and G-TEP groups for women with endometriosis and medical trauma.
- EMDR intensives for when your nervous system needs more room than a 50-minute hour allows.
- Christian counseling that makes space for lament, doubt, and anger at God — without judgment or spiritual bypassing.
- EndoKin Collective — cohort-based group EMDR for women navigating endometriosis and medical trauma.
Clinical supervision for limited-permit and permit-pending counselors is offered in New York only, where Shakira holds diagnostic privilege (LMHC-D). New York clinicians seeking trauma-informed, reflective supervision can learn more on our Clinical Supervision page.
Cheerful Heart is always cooking up something new! You can sign up for our newsletter at the bottom of this page to stay abreast of updates on when Shakira will be able to supervise counselors in California, South Carolina, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. It’s in the works!
Do you offer online therapy in California?
Yes. Cheerful Heart provides secure telehealth across California, including Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, and statewide. Shakira is licensed as an LPCC in California.
Is there a Black Christian therapist in California who understands endometriosis and medical trauma?
Yes. We specialize in Black and BIPOC Christian women living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, PMDD, and autoimmune illness — pairing evidence-based EMDR and somatic work with faith-integrated care.
What is somatic EMDR and how does it help chronic pain?
Somatic EMDR combines trauma reprocessing with gentle attention to what’s happening in your body. For women whose bodies have been a source of unpredictable pain, it helps rebuild a sense of safety and reconnection rather than disconnection and dread.
Do I need to be Christian to work with Cheerful Heart?
No. We specialize in faith-integrated therapy for Black Christian women, and we welcome clients of every faith, race, and background. We are an inclusive practice.
Your pain has been dismissed enough. Here, your whole story is welcome. Book your free 15-minute consultation and take the first step toward care that finally sees all of you.
Contact me today for your free consultation.