Licensed to practice in Florida and accepts 38 insurances. Specializes in Depression, Trauma and PTSD, Women's Issues and 3 more.
(she/her)
Often rebooked
Client’s often say, “You wouldn’t understand” to therapists, and although I am fully aware that no one can FULLY understand another person’s story, I believe something that makes me unique as a therapist is that I am very familiar with struggle. I come from a large family, of which I am the eldest, and I took on a nurturing role very naturally and very young. I made my fair share of mistakes and landed myself in places I never thought I’d be, including domestic violence. As a result, I fought hard for my degrees, and my journey to licensure took longer than I wanted. However, today I am grateful, because I have learned a lot through my experiences. I have learned how to take pride in my entrepreneurship as a black woman, how to be a strong single mother, and ultimately, how to thrive under pressure. I have worked with a variety of populations, and I find that I am very interested in helping to provide the guidance I was lacking in my younger years. I am loyal, and I am a fighter. I want to help you fight your own darkness, and begin to let the light seep through.
In our first session together, well start with brief introductions, then dive into specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow- up sessions.
Treatment methods used are CBT, solution focused, motivational interviewing, open ended questioning
My greatest strength is my ability to listen deeply and respond with empathy, clarity, and intention. I am skilled at helping clients feel validated while also guiding them toward insight, emotional awareness, and meaningful change.
My ideal clients are individuals who are open to self-reflection, value consistency in therapy, and are willing to engage in the therapeutic process both in and outside of sessions. My specialties are working with teens and young women with trauma backgrounds. I find that I am able to get on the same level as a teen, help them feel understood, and bridge the gap between them and their parents. I am also very passionate about helping women heal through trauma, particularly domestic violence. Many people cannot comprehend that torment, and that makes healing even more difficult. I try to provide relief for my clients, and I stay genuine to who I am as a human being, which makes me relatable and nonthreatening. If this sounds like a good fit, please feel free to reach out!
Other specialties
I identify as
Cash - $80 per session
Aetna
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Ambetter Health
Amerihealth Administrators
Anthem
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Cross Blue Shield
Centivo
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
Florida Blue
Golden Rule
GTEB
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
14 ratings with written reviews
May 22, 2026
Down to earth, keeps it real, empowering, solutions oriented, authentic, direct but warm, supportive…. All around amazing!
April 6, 2026
Shakela has been an incredibly grounding force in a life full of chaos. She is easy to talk to and open up to. She remembers small details from previous conversations and she allows the client to lead the conversation. She doesn't interrupt and provides feedback where she feels it's appropriate. Otherwise, she serves as a safe space to just open up about your inner most feelings or just vent about your week. She was also super flexible with a recent last minute cancellation. Highly recommend!
February 21, 2026
I loved my first appointment with Shakela. I’m really excited to start this journey with her on healing.