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 everyday 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?