We recently connected with Dr. Shiarnice Taylor and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Shiarnice, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Was there a moment in your career that meaningfully altered your trajectory? If so, we’d love to hear the backstory.
Mental health has always been something I’ve been passionate about. It was right after I had gotten married that I realized my own mental health needed some checks and balances before I could help anyone else. I struggled after obtaining my Ph.D. in psychology and being a newly wed wife and not soon after almost a year and 1/2 later becoming divorced I understood the necessity of obtaining and maintaining the right counselors. I went from significant panic attacks and depression to overcoming covid, losses within my family, a divorce, infertility and so much more that helped me identify with others in life and instead of making it about myself I began to understand there was so much more at stake in this world. With mass shootings with the past two years within our schools, churches, grocery stories, movie theaters there is so much that isn’t talked about in mental health and everyone needs to be aware of behavior of those around them. Not only in public but also on social media. Life can be difficult and it’s ok to admit when you’re not ok. However as a counselor I understand my assignment and my duty is to help those go with not ok to better and from that to very well. Mental health awareness is a crucial component of everything we do in this life and ensuring the safety of our families and society starts with ensuring that body, mind and soul is well!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
After working in the criminal justice field for the past 8 years while also being an adjunct Professor at Houston Community College of Psychology I knew something was missing and wanted to take my career in a different direction. I began my private practice Ministry Is Life in 2020 during the height of the pandemic after recognizing the crucial need for counselors and mental health assistance. I use cognitive behavior therapy combined with methods established by John B. Watson, Piaget, Ivan Pavlov and Gestalt therapy as well to assist my clients. I specialize in Anxiety and Major depressive disorders, substance abuse, bi-polar type 1 & 2, couples counseling, adolescent counseling and general services regarding education awareness on mental health in the community. I am currently still a visiting faculty at Houston Community College teaching Psychology as a love this field and love teaching about the subject matter. What sets me apart as a counselor is that my approach combines personal responsibility with self-worth enhancing one’s knowledge of understanding that Yes past traumas may have caused damage but one doesn’t have to stay in that place. Something I love to tell my clients is “if you tell the mind what to do it will listen.!” And I stand by that fact as someone who has struggled myself with chronic anxiety and depression and I am now teaching my clients about grounding, mindfulness, meditation, affirmations and eating better.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
Cliches and traditional sayings do not apply to my life. One thing I really find as a pet peeve of mind of cliches and traditional sayings such as “don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” ” Hurt people hurt people!” These are just two there are so many more trust me. The reason I had to unlearn these sayings is that I realize behind every cliche and saying is a negative connotation of what we perceive humans to be. Instead of believing in the power of everyone to hone their ability to be caring, loving, positive individuals we assume the worse of people before we assume the best and after being in a dark place of people pleasing after my divorce I began to understand the power of language and what we say and how that overall impacts the trajectory of our lives. What we say is what we believe, and what we believe is how we will act in accordance to the belief!
Have you ever had to pivot?
After covid hit I realized starting a counseling business in the middle of a pandemic wasn’t the best choices for me personally and financially. Although services were needed people just weren’t patronizing business as much as I thought they would so I had to make a huge pivot and take on my teaching and educational opportunities in my field and it was an adjustment but after much personal growth and my own healing and financial gain I was able to step away and return back to my practice stronger and more ready than ever to assist my clients.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: ministryislifeccs
- Facebook: Ministry is Life
- Other: [email protected]
Image Credits
God Father photography Jason Ester