We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sharice Burnett a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Sharice thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear the backstory of how you established your own practice.

From a young age, I knew that I wanted to build my own legacy. I wanted to continue to pave the way for other young people that looked like me just as my ancestors had done for me. When I began my journey in the social work field at 20 years old, I instantly knew that I would have a life long journey of serving my community and advocating for radical change. I also knew that I wanted to do it my own way and on my own terms. While working for several well-intentioned mental health agencies in various capacities, I was exposed to the issues with politics and bureaucracy; and witnessed many of these agencies actually severely hurt the people it was supposed to serve and heal, including the employees. I watched the most vulnerable children and families, particularly Black and Brown people, suffer at the hands of systems and people who didn’t see them as human. Exposure to this pain and the inequities led me to building my business. I wanted to provide healing, education, and support to my community in the ways that my ancestors have always done without limitations and constraints.

My first step was seeking guidance from my higher power and believing I could do it. I also surrounded myself with other’s who believed in me too! My husband and children, my mom, and my sister-circles carried me through the hardest parts of my journey, such as passing my licensure exam. Their prayers, love, and support were vital in taking this leap to being fully self-employed.

The next step was seeking mentorship. I needed guidance from other mental health professionals who were already successfully operating their own practices. I found three helpful mentors who sat down with me and showed me in detail the steps to take to create and maintain a successful business. One mentor showed me how to get on insurance panels so I could bill for my services; one who showed me the business logistics of having a therapy practice; and another who showed me how to contract with agencies to do consulting work. People were familiar with my advocacy work in the community which significantly helped me build the consultation aspect of my business.

After laying the foundation, it was time to take the leap. I did all of these previous steps mentioned while still being employed full time. It was not an easy task, it required a lot of working late into the night and lots of self-care. However, there came a time, where I couldn’t do both. My business grew so quickly that I had no other choice but to take the ultimate chance on myself. I took that leap and have not looked back.

Tips I have for young professionals:

One of the key parts of operating your own business is having passion for whatever you are doing. You have to love what you do at least 80% of the time because running a business is hard work. It requires many sacrifices and takes a lot of patience, the passion has to sustain you through the hard times.

You need community. You can’t wear all of the hats and do it alone (because it can get lonely) I have partnered with other mental health professionals and business owners to work on many projects and it has made all of the difference to work along side other like-minded individuals that are dedicated to healing the community.

Lastly, do not limit yourself of your business. Your business does not have to fit in a box or look like anyone else’s. Other’s ways of doing things may not work for you and that is okay. We are all on our own journey and there is so much beauty in our differences.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Portland, OR native and I love being able to work and serve in the community that I am from. I attended Portland State University where I received a Bachelors degree in Social Work with a Minor in Black Studies; and a Master’s degree in Social Work with a concentration in Practice and Leadership with Communities and Organizations. I created my business with the intention of bringing mental health resources and wellness to the Black/African-American community in a way that reduces stigma and provides healing for lineages to come. I incorporate ancestral healing modalities, interpersonal neurobiology practices, and a racial equity person-centered approach to meet and support people exactly where they are at. In addition to mental health services, I provide consultation and training that is rooted in healing and transformation to corporations and organizations.

My desire to do this work came from witnessing and experiencing a lot of harm and hardship in the Northeast Portland (NEP) Community. Living in Oregon as a Black person is not always a pleasant experience, we often experience a lot of racism and discrimination. It is not a very racially diverse area and Oregon was the last state that allowed Black people to live here. While the Black community here is resilient and thriving in many ways, Oregon is a place where there continues to be deep pain and trauma for Black individuals. I wanted to change that. I wanted to provide a sanctuary space for those to come and heal from the trauma that occurs as a result of racism and bias. I also felt a need to educate and advocate for change within systems to help stop this harm from reoccurring.

When I am not working, I am spending time with my husband (my college sweetheart) and our three children ages 1, 7, and 11. We love adventuring, playing our nintendo switch, and riding bikes. I am most proud of my family and the life that we have created together. I am also deeply proud of the work that I do and the people I work with. I am thankful for my client’s who trust me with their most vulnerable experiences and information and believe that healing is possible.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

Being my authentic self and doing this work with integrity. I bring my whole self into every space that I enter. This has not always been easy to do but it’s been required of me. I have to stay true to my personal values and commitment to the work. I have had to speak up for the most vulnerable populations that have been silenced. When you do brave and courageous acts, it stands out to people. When you lead with authenticity and integrity, your work speaks for itself.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

I am so passionate about this work that I entered into the field giving it my all and pouring all of my energy into every client that I encountered. I quickly learned that doing this work in that way is not sustainable. I was burnt out and drained. I needed therapy myself. I needed to learn and practice balance and healthy boundaries with others. I had to figure out where I learned this practice of working myself to the point of exhaustion and heal. I reflected on the notion that Black women and women in general have historically been viewed as “superwomen” and caretakers of all. I had to unlearn some of the beliefs and practices that I saw modeled around me while growing up. I had to learn that caring for myself is also an act of resistance in itself and it’s necessary to do in this work.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.shariceburnettlcsw.com
• Instagram: @shariceburnettlcsw
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharice-burnett-lcsw-07330768

Image Credits
Photo Credits: Mariah Dance, owner of Moments By Mariah