Shakedra Harris
Shakedra Harris
Hello, I am Sha-kedra Harris, Do you feel overwhelmed, anxious, irritable, or on edge? Do you find that you have trouble sleeping, experience lack of motivation, often fatigued, or burnout? Together, we can work to identify coping strategies to help you feel empowered. I am an experienced Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a demonstrated history of working in the individual and family services industry. I graduated from Valdosta State University with a Master’s in Social Work in 2013. In 2016, I obtained my Clinical licensure through the Georgia Professional Composite Board. I currently hold a Ph.D. in Performance Psychology from Grand Canyon University. I am skilled in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused Therapy, Strength-Based Techniques, Evidence-Based Techniques, Group Therapy, Substance Abuse, Marriage and Crisis Counseling Interventions. I hold several credentials to include Board Certified Diplomate (BCD), Clinical Military Counseling (CMCC), Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW), and Georgia School Social Work. She is also a member of The National Association of Social Workers (NASW).
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session together, we'll start with brief introductions, then dive into the specific challenges you're facing. This will help me create a tailored plan for us to work through in follow-up sessions.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
My ultimate goal is to allow clients to have a safe space to face trauma, heal, and feel empowered to grow. My strengths are helping clients understand the connections between how our life experiences shape the way we view and deal with life challenges. I help patients understand how our thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected thus having the ability to affect the way we handle situations.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I love working with clients who are eager to improve but don't yet have the necessary tools to make their goal a reality. They often feel stuck, overwhelmed, and anxious, and need someone to help them discover their true resilience on this journey.
About Shakedra Harris
Shakedra Harris offers therapy covered by Medicaid - Peach State Health Plan and Peach State Health Plan (Managed Medicaid) in Georgia.
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VirtualMy treatment methods
Strength-Based
I have extensive experience utilizing the strength-based treatment model, which centers on identifying and leveraging the inherent strengths, resources, and resilience of individuals rather than focusing solely on pathology or deficits. This approach aligns with my core belief that clients are not defined by their challenges but are capable of growth and healing when empowered to recognize their own capacities. In my practice, I use strength-based interventions by: 1. Conducting collaborative assessments that explore a client’s past successes, coping mechanisms, values, and support systems. 2. Reframing problems to highlight resilience—for example, shifting the narrative from “I’m broken” to “I’ve survived, and here’s how.” 3. Setting empowering goals that build on what the client is already doing well, which enhances self-efficacy and motivation for change. 4. Incorporating client language and identity into treatment planning, ensuring that clients feel seen and heard as the expert in their own life. 5. Using narrative and solution-focused techniques that help clients reauthor their stories, emphasize agency, and envision preferred futures. This model has been particularly effective when working with individuals managing chronic mental health conditions, trauma, or systemic barriers, as it fosters hope, engagement, and long-term resilience.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I am well-versed in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and regularly integrate its principles into my clinical work. CBT’s structured, evidence-based framework allows for targeted interventions that help clients identify, challenge, and replace unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors contributing to emotional distress. In my practice, I use CBT by: 1. Conducting thought monitoring and cognitive restructuring—helping clients identify negative automatic thoughts and reframe them into more balanced and realistic perspectives. 2. Behavioral activation strategies to increase engagement in meaningful activities, especially when working with clients experiencing depression or anxiety. 3. Teaching coping skills and problem-solving techniques that empower clients to manage stress, reduce avoidance behaviors, and build confidence in handling life challenges. 4. Using exposure techniques for clients struggling with phobias, PTSD, or obsessive-compulsive behaviors—gradually reducing avoidance and building distress tolerance. 5. Collaboratively setting measurable goals and tracking progress, which enhances accountability and promotes self-efficacy. I tailor CBT interventions to meet the unique needs of each client, integrating cultural, developmental, and trauma-informed considerations to ensure care is both effective and person-centered. This approach has consistently helped clients develop insight, improve emotional regulation, and achieve sustainable change.
Couples Counseling
have significant experience providing couples counseling, supporting partners in navigating relational challenges, enhancing communication, and rebuilding emotional connection. My approach is integrative, drawing from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Gottman Method, and Cognitive Behavioral Couple Therapy (CBCT) to address both emotional patterns and practical skill-building. In my practice, I use couples counseling by: 1. Creating a safe, neutral space where both partners feel heard, validated, and respected. 2. Facilitating open communication by teaching active listening, reflective responses, and assertive expression of needs and boundaries. 3. Identifying negative interaction cycles such as blame, withdrawal, or criticism, and helping partners interrupt these cycles to foster empathy and connection. 4. Addressing underlying emotional needs and attachment wounds, especially in relationships affected by infidelity, trauma, or unresolved past hurt. 5. Using structured interventions such as conflict resolution exercises, shared goals development, and love language exploration to rebuild trust and intimacy. 6. Assigning between-session tasks to reinforce in-session progress and encourage continued emotional investment in the relationship. My work with couples is deeply rooted in the belief that healthy relationships are built on mutual understanding, shared responsibility, and emotional safety. I tailor each session to meet the couple’s unique dynamic, cultural context, and stage of relationship.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I have extensive experience incorporating mindfulness-based interventions into my clinical practice to support clients in developing greater self-awareness, emotional regulation, and presence. Drawing from Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT). I use mindfulness to help clients shift from reactive patterns to intentional, values-driven living. In practice, I use mindfulness-based treatment by: 1. Teaching grounding and breathing techniques to help clients manage anxiety, panic, and emotional dysregulation in real time. 2. Guiding body scans and mindful awareness exercises to increase somatic awareness and reduce dissociation, particularly in trauma-affected individuals. 3. Integrating mindfulness into cognitive work, helping clients observe their thoughts non-judgmentally rather than becoming entangled in them. 4. Encouraging present-moment awareness to improve focus, reduce rumination, and enhance the client’s ability to respond thoughtfully instead of reacting impulsively. 5. Assigning between-session practices such as mindful journaling, walking meditations, or apps to help clients build consistent mindfulness habits. 6. Using mindfulness in session to model attunement, slow down heightened emotional states, and foster deeper therapeutic insight. This approach has been especially effective for clients managing chronic stress, depression, trauma, and anxiety, allowing them to reconnect with their internal experiences and cultivate resilience through intentional practice.