We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Shawnnell Batiste a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Shawnnell, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Is there a heartwarming story from your career that you look back on?
The first thing that people notice when they see me is my hair. It’s a huge afro with butterflies all over. It garners a lot of attention. Many people cannot resist telling me how much they love the butterflies and my hair. I never realized how much people LOVE butterflies. No matter the age, gender, race, location, socioeconomic status, or any other defining characteristic of humans. EVERYONE seems to love butterflies. I definitely made a conscious choice to create this style but the original intent was to show my brand colors. I had begun to speak in various places and I wanted my audience to have something to identify me with even if they could not remember my name. They could remember the lady with the teal and purple butterflies in her hair.
Well as much as my intentions were to use it for branding, the butterflies have taken on a life of their own. I started to notice the difference in the way little black girls looked at me. It was different, to say the least. It was reverential. They were awestruck. The first time I paid attention to it, there was a little girl no older than 5 pointing at me and jumping up and down while tugging at her mother’s shirt. She couldn’t seem to get her mother’s attention.
As I got closer to them, I garnered the mother’s attention by stating, “Mom. Mom looked at the lady with the butterflies in her hair!” The mother looked at me, astonished, and said “Oh my gosh, your hair is so beautiful. As I expressed my gratitude, I asked the little one what she thought of my hair and butterflies. She demonstrated her delight through the excitement flowing through her little body as she smiled and emphatically stated how much she liked my hair. Without premeditation or provocation, I felt compelled to offer her a butterfly. Just when I thought she couldn’t get more excited, she did, and her little eyes lit up so brightly that I felt like a celebrity.
With her mother’s permission, I took a butterfly from my hair and placed it in hers. I look into her eyes, and I tell her, “You are the most beautiful Little black girl in the world. And don’t let anyone tell you Differently. Now take care of your butterfly.” As I leave their presence, responding to her mother’s gratitude, I hear the words, “This is your thing. This is how you inspire.”
I bet you wonder how is this related to what I do. You see when I spoke those affirming words into that little girl, it acted as a reflection and I inadvertently spoke to the little girl in me that always needed to hear that. As a therapist who works primarily with Marginalized and Disenfranchised people, the majority of them being Black people, I am often speaking to the hurting child inside of them who was not affirmed, respected, seen, heard, or understood by parents, family, or the community at large. I wear my hair big and bold as a representation of a proud, confident, beautiful black woman. I wear my butterflies as a beautiful representation of transformation. As I continue to astonish little black girls and women and pass along this beautiful symbol of transformation, I am reminded of the impact I have on my community and the mission I have been gifted to help them heal.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I am Shawnnell Batiste, Your Favorite No Bullshit Therapist, Mental Wealth Coach, and founder of Choosing Empowerment Mental Wealth practice. Choosing Empowerment was created with a mission to empower marginalized and disenfranchised individuals by breaking down the barriers that have been holding them back from making positive, impactful choices in their lives. While some barriers are external and systemic, other barriers are often caused by trauma and negative mindsets. We achieve this by providing authentic, high-accountability therapy and comprehensive Mental Wealth coaching services, ensuring access, support, and guidance needed for lasting transformation.
At the heart of Choosing Empowerment lies the fundamental principles of choice and relationship. We empower our clients to exercise their autonomy, allowing them to make informed decisions that will positively impact their lives. We offer guidance and support to the Black and POC, LGBTQIA+, Foster/Adoptive, and Formerly Incarcerated communities by establishing profound connections with them driven by a shared understanding of their challenges and experiences. We promote the development of culturally competent therapists through internship opportunities with the intention of serving our populations with excellence. We offer services to individuals, groups, couples, and families and yes, we serve children 5 and up as well.
I am a therapist by heart. This is all I have ever wanted to do since I was seven years old. Now we are developing a team of No BS therapists who do this because they were born to do so. Our measure of success is authenticity. We do not pretend to be anyone but ourselves and we expect the same from our clients. We ensure the client truly feels that they have obtained their best matching therapist because a healthy relationship and trust are foundational in the therapeutic journey. We are straightforward- no sugarcoating here. If you are not doing the work, we are going to challenge you. After all, you set these goals for yourself, and we will hold you accountable while offering you tools and support to get the job done.
We are non-traditional, innovative, and eclectic. This means we believe there is more than one way to get things done, so we utilize many different therapeutic models to explore what will work for each individual and their specific needs. We recognize the importance of education in breaking the stigma barrier. Therefore, we utilize social media, community events, webinars, and podcasts to connect with our communities to share valuable information encouraging them to seek help.
We are most proud of our connections with Non-Profit Organizations that share our mission and values. Currently, we are working alongside 5 Nonprofits: Metta Association, The Loft Nonprofit, Long Live Tony Johnson Jr, True Rose Inc., and What’s in the Mirror. Through these connections, we are provided with the opportunity to expand our reach to our communities in a variety of ways. We also partner with organizations such as the Boris Lawrence Henson Foundation by participating in their campaigns that offer 5 free therapy sessions to those who enroll and choose Choosing Empowerment for services.
With wisdom, growth is infinite. We are growing wiser as we change the way therapy is done, by doing things differently. At Choosing Empowerment, we are always looking for ways to serve, connect, and be creative in the delivery of services. Join us on this journey of Mental, Emotional, and Spiritual Abundance as a Cyclebreaker in need of services or a Barrierbreaker seeking to serve! We are Choosing Empowerment, we break barriers, so you can break cycles.
Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?
Authenticity turned out to be my primary source of gaining and retaining clients! I have learned in my many years of living that people don’t care what you know until they know that you care. There are two primary strategies that work well for me. First, I offer Specialized Services. I serve specific communities and I know those communities intimately. Therefore, I know how to market to them and I understand their need and the best methods to serve them. Then, I wrap everything I do in authenticity. When I list in directories, do a podcast, speak at an event, engage on social media, and especially when providing the service, I remain genuinely true to myself, fostering a sense of authenticity and trust. It’s important to me that they recognize my sincerity in delivering the high standard of service that my agency upholds. I consistently inquire with prospective clients about their reasons for selecting my services. This information not only helps me identify areas of excellence but also serves as a compelling aspect of what draws individuals to my offerings. I’ve come to understand that the clients who align with my mission naturally gravitate toward me, while those better suited elsewhere will inevitably find the right fit. This approach results in greater client satisfaction, and contented clients are often the most enthusiastic advocates who help spread the word. Regardless of what strategy I choose, I understand that I must always speak to my audience in a way that allows them to get to know me and believe that I have a solution for their problem.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
“You are exactly where you are supposed to be at this moment”. This was a phrase I used to tell my daughter all the time when she had failed two grades. She would always lament at the idea that she was not in the appropriate grade for her age. We all seem to have this timeline set up for ourselves that we often created in childhood. One that creates a deadline for marriage and children. One that does not allow for mistakes, bumps and bruises of life. One that does not account for roadblocks, potholes, and detours. Well, I am no different. As I embarked on my freshman year of college, my goal was to graduate with a bachelor’s degree in four years. However, I soon realized that I had underestimated the challenges ahead, as I lacked the clarity and guidance necessary for success. In fact, the sole reason I found myself there as a freshman was due to the unwavering support of my high school teachers. They rallied together, leveraging every connection and resource at their disposal to ensure my admission into the school. You see, I had a deep desire to attend college, and my heart was fully committed to that goal. However, the process of actually getting into college was a complete mystery to me. I was unaware of the intricacies of applications, deadlines, and even the concept of registration. The idea of paying for school was also a revelation. Fortunately, they handled all of these details and ensured I made it there. From that point forward, the responsibility rested squarely in my hands. The same hands that Failed to sign my loan application, which sent me traveling home in the spring semester after I started. Devastated, yet determined to return, I worked diligently that summer to pay what I owed to school, and I accomplished my goal. That was only my first delay. Over the next several years I would stop-out and slow down my school career several times. I changed Universities 3 times while chasing false hopes and allowing trauma and depression to bounce me from place to place. Just as I could see my way clearly, I became pregnant and needed to pivot once more.
Balancing a full-time job, full-time parenting, and a grueling two-hour commute to school three days a week, often in a vehicle barely holding up, forced me to stretch what should have been my final three semesters into six. During this time, I opted for the minimum number of credit hours needed to qualify for financial aid. My journey started in the fall of 1990 and finally ended in the spring of 2003, with a well-earned bachelor’s degree in psychology from L.S.U. I took 13 years to get a 4 year degree and I do not regret one moment because if any one thing had changed, everything after that would have changed also, and that means I would not be sitting here today talking with you. See, I am exactly where I am supposed to be at this moment.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.choosingempowerment.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/choosingempowerment
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/choosingempowerment
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/choosing-empowerment-llc/
- Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/_ChoosingWisely
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@choosingempowerment_NoBS
- Other: https://beacons.ai/choosingempowerment https://www.tiktok.com/@choosingempowerment29?lang=en
Image Credits
LaKnights Photography