Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaenor Ishmael.
Hi Shaenor, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I have always had the drive to help others in life, always offering a helping hand and finding solutions to various challenges that may arise for others. I knew I wanted to pursue this professionally. Therefore, I decided to obtain both a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Social Work. I am now a Licensed Clinical Social Worker within the State of Florida.
I began working within the medical Social Work field and thus began my journey in mental health. My passion for helping others propelled my drive to become an advocate for mental health awareness. In doing this, I identified a lack of awareness as it pertains to mental health. More specially, there is a stigma associated with seeking mental health services among individuals of color. Therefore, I started my company Inspired Counseling Center, LLC, to combat this stigma and be a part of the change for good, normalizing seeking therapy.
I specialize in providing therapy to women, individuals of color, and relationship counseling. Having a safe space to explore feelings and emotions contributes to being mentally and emotionally healthy. I aim to inspire and empower individuals to live fulfilling lives.
I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. My business officially opened in mid-2019, and in early 2020, due to the pandemic, we had to transition from in-person to telehealth services. This transition created various challenges. However, it also allowed me to expand my services to the entire State of Florida via telehealth.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I specialize in providing therapy to women, individuals of color, and relationship counseling. Having a safe space to explore feelings and emotions contributes to being mentally and emotionally healthy. I aim to inspire and empower individuals to live fulfilling lives.
Certain mental health topics are specific to women. Therefore, the counseling approach must be individualized based on the lived experiences of the woman. These topics can include concerns regarding fertility and loss regarding maternal mental health, relationships, marriage, and family.
I specialize in providing services to individuals of color. As an individual of color, creating a safe space for other individuals of color to explore their feelings and emotions relating to various traumas and experiences that are unique to us is something I cherish. There is a stigma regarding seeking mental health services within this population. Therefore, to be a part of the solution of normalizing mental health within this community (my community) is something I do not take lightly.
I also provide relationship counseling in the form of both pre-marital counseling and marriage counseling. When provided with the proper tools, relationships have the potential to be successful and thrive. So often, individuals spend time preparing for a wedding and not the actual marriage. Pre-marital counseling provides the space to explore various topics which can later contribute to barriers in a relationship. Once married, it is essential to understand that marriage is ever-expanding and that marriage counseling is imperative to continue to grow and develop a healthy relationship.
Therapy takes the pressure away of having to figure everything out on your own.
The crisis has affected us all in different ways. How has it affected you and any important lessons or epiphanies you can share with us?
Learn to ride the waves, life happens.
Pricing:
- $60 for a 30-minute session
- $100 for an hour session
- $130 couples counseling (1 hour)
Contact Info:
- Email: shaenor@inspiredcounselingcenter.com
- Website: https://www.inspiredcounselingcenter.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/inspiredcounselingcenter/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inspiredcounselingcenter/
