We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful DeShelle Burrowes . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with DeShelle below.

DeShelle, appreciate you joining us today. Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.

I’m in the process of pivoting from focusing on Black Mothers to focusing on supporting women as a whole. I’ve had many clients with Postpartum related issues, as well as issues with sexual trauma but I had one that had both plus an issue with being visible in every space that she should have been owning, at her job and at home. We worked through her Postpartum issues but then other issues (triggers) appeared and I realized that her issues stemmed from not feeling heard… Wow!!! We began working on what she needed to convey. What she felt no one was listening to. Holding space for her to get those things out and allowing her to feel what she felt when she felt held and heard and then she journaled. We had her sit with those feelings and she felt them with me supporting her the entire way.
When she was ready, she decided when and how she would address these issues in her place of work and at home. We utilized EMDR to help her change her negative connotations that she’d been listening to, to empower her and she did it… She spoke. She told them all what she’d needs to say and say in her body, feeling the release along the way. She felt heard and supported in all her spaces and no longer did she have Anxiety, no longer did she isolate herself from others. She was able to start working on the life she wanted for herself which she learned was the most important person in her life.
This beautiful experience blessed me to see with just this one client and I’ve had soo many others, that it is my purpose to support the woman as a whole, instead of her parts. I have been soo excited with the revelation because it is allowing me to truly walk in my purpose of supporting women where they are and beyond.

DeShelle, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

Sure I will!! I am a Sex Therapy trained, Trauma Psychotherapist. I specialize in curating safe spaces for women where they can process their issues and get to their place of healing. I own a boutique private practice where I deal with all things woman utilizing talk therapy and somatic practices, body work, to support women into become the best versions of themselves. I ensure that the women that I support learn how to truly care for themselves by not only working on the issues that brought them to me but also introducing them to caring for themselves appropriately by ensuring that they consistently pour into their own cups first, my making space for themselves with self care as well and setting appropriate boundaries for them to healthy and whole. I also love helping women find their voices in both the boardroom and the bedroom to support them in getting their needs met. When we feel heard, not only do our minds react but our bodies as well, and this is when anxiety goes down, depression dissipates and our sexual energy rises helping us to feel beautiful, sexual beings if we so chose.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I understand my clients soo well because I was my client. I am a child sexual assault survivor and when I began my journey towards healing, I had a difficult time. I couldn’t find anyone who truly understood my journey and how to support me in getting to my place of healing. It was definitely hard to find a black female therapist who specialized in sexual trauma and although, I had multiple careers, I was a Flight Attendant for 16 years and a stay at home mom for 5, I knew I wanted to help women in a special way. So I began my journey as a therapist and from day one I knew I wanted to be the therapist that I was looking for when I began my healing journey. I’ve never once wavered in this passion and feel like I’m completely on the path that I should be on.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

I think my reputation was built on supporting moms through support groups for a while. Not many support groups, especially one that supports Black Moms last long. I have been supporting Black Moms through my practice and The Mommy Tribe which is my support group since November 2019. I have consistently held space for moms that look like me the first Saturday of every month since it’s inception, never missing a Saturday. Now, all women are welcomed but it tends to be only Women of Color who stick around and I LOVE IT!!!! I get that I may not be for everybody and that is okay. We’ve, the moms and I, have created a lovely space where we discuss all things about motherhood from nipple shields to hormones to self care and it is a beautiful space. From this group, I have met many therapists who’ve sent their clients to me for this additional support over and over again and I’m happy to provide such a space for them.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thepathwaytowellness.net/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/sexywomenswellness
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeShelleB

Image Credits
Dana Jones Photography DeShelle Burrowes