We were lucky to catch up with Dr. Shameka Harris recently and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Shameka, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?
One client success story has been for one of my clients to be suicidal, depressed and not wanting to live. She felt inadequate, unmotivated and down on herself. When she came to see me; I worked out a plan of organization, how to deal with emotions, ways to effectively communicate what shes going through and how to encourage and motivate herself. Now, this client has a very successful tax business, her marriage is thriving and her family is well. We still have sessions monthly to help work through her emotions and feelings. Keeping her aligned and grounded in order to keep her climbing to higher heights.
Dr. Shameka, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
Hello, my name is Dr. Shameka, I am a Mental Health Life Coach and Counselor who also is the founder of a Non-profit (A Beautiful Rebuild Inc) that serves Military Veterans. I can now be classified as an author as well, who has written two books. One, a journal that helps us work through different feelings and emotions of depression and healing our mental health. The book is titled- Rebuild (available on Amazon) The other book is titled- Masking in my Brokenness; which is an anthology written with other fabulous authors. This one is available through me; contact me for copies.
I have grown to become Dr. Shameka as I myself have struggled with mental health illness and suicidal thoughts. One day I attempted to commit suicide but God had other plans. He took me to my future but not my death. I clearly saw what would become of my life if I only decided to live. From that day forward, I vowed to grow and heal and then offer the encouragement to live to others. I had to Rebuild my life and then help others Rebuild theirs as well. I went back to school to become a certified Life Coach as I have always been the one to encourage and motivate those around me to elevate in their lives. I figured out this was my purpose. Then, as I grew in my coaching business, I knew that I needed to learn about the mental health side as I didn’t know much about ways people dealt with this illness and how to work through it and heal that part of us.
As I meet with clients as a Coach or Counselor; I work to plan goals, encourage dreams, work through emotions and how to overcome what we go through. I will also refer those who need medication and give resources for any material needs or desire. In the non-profit business, my goal overall is to help and touch the lives of our military veterans and their families. As I have been in the Human Resources sector for almost 10 years, I have been presented with issues and setbacks that our veterans have experienced. As I would look for resources and help for them, I realized there was a great need for someone like me to be a bridge for them.
What sets me apart is that I am not afraid to speak on my experience, the set backs and hurdles it has taken me to overcome in order to be where I am. My life is a testimony of what God can and will do; if we only believe. I am down to earth so I can easily stand as whatever role you need me to play in your life, whether it be friend, sister, Mom, cousin or just a listening ear.
What I am most proud of is overcoming and now being able to help my community become aware and unafraid. My book has made its way across the country and into the hands of some amazing people. People are growing and having conversations. We are being freed and healing the traumas we have encountered.
As we become more aware; my hope is that we grow and are able to Rebuild our lives. Become who we were destined to be and live in our purpose. Work through our traumas and live life to the fullest.
I would encourage you all to come sit with me and allow my love to love you back to wholeness. Let me help you navigate where you would like to see your life go. Let’s heal; let’s grow. If you know of any veterans who are in need of any services or resources, please contact me.
Many Blessings,
Dr. Shameka Harris
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
One lesson that I had to unlearn was that family would be there to support me. When I wrote my first book, my sales came from friends and strangers. I think maybe 5 family members actually paid for the book. So, when it was time to move forward with starting the NON-PROFIT I knew not to get my feelings hurt when no one shared what I was doing or even asked how/if they could help. I have been gaining so much knowledge and assistance from those around me who believe in what I’m doing but it has not been family at all.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I knew I had to do something different when the ways I expected life to change had not come into fruition. I lost everything and when I did, I had nowhere to go but up. How was I going to do that; was the question? I had to make some hard decisions and do something crazy to get the results that I now have. I moved out of the state with my children, slept on the floor at my cousin’s house and saved money to write my first book and to pay for my Life Coaching Certification. There were many nights where I prayed to God just for strength to continue because I had no clue what was going to come out of this, but I knew I wanted better and jumped out on faith. Although, I was in the darkest time of my life, I was also at peace with the choices I was making because I had family to love me unconditionally while I rediscovered who I was and working towards the goals I set before myself. I prayed, wrote out my plan and haven’t looked back since. Every goal that I had set for myself, I have accomplished.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @dr.shameka_harris, @abeautifulrebuild
- Facebook: Dr.Shameka Harris and A Beautiful Rebuild