About Me:

“The best laid plans of mice and men oft go astray.” - John Steinbeck, Of Mice and Men

I remember reading this book in the 7th grade. Thirty-plus years later, I realize what it means for the best laid plans of mice and men to go astray.

Hi! I am Shirley. I am a middle-aged mixed Black woman Oakland therapist. I was born and raised in New York City (Brooklyn & The Bronx).

I did not dream of being a psychotherapist. I was academically-inclined as a child and was encouraged to be a lawyer or doctor, although I saw myself more as an artist. In college, I hoped to be in the corporate media world. I graduated from college and entered the job market and took a job in corporate finance in New York City,

I was in my 20’s making good money living in Harlem, New York in a doorman building. I had friends and a fun social life. I was on my way to making it, right?

I felt like I had followed all the rules to success or what I was taught success was. I had done well in school my whole life, worked to get scholarships to attend a fancy private school, graduated from an Ivy league university, gotten a job at a well known corporation, went to the gym and kept up my appearance.

Yet my misery and harsh self critical voice continued to contribute to debilitating depressive episodes.

I completed my first 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training in India in 2010 with the hopes that I would stop suffering from low self-esteem and depression. But yoga just woke me up to feeling more emotions and my body.

I started my own personal therapy and realized that I had repressed emotions deep down in my body - anger, sadness, and disappointment, and that shifted my professional career forever. I recognized the wisdom of the body and all the memories that it keeps.

Each day, I remember healing is a journey - it is not linear. The goal is not to be perfect or to fit into anyone else’s idea of success. Everyday is a chance to meet myself as I am and love up on her in new ways and give myself permission to grow and change.

Over the last 20 years, I have studied, practiced and explored a variety of healing modalities with teachers from around the world. I am a dedicated yoga practitioner who has also taught for the last 15 years. I have apprenticed within herbalism programs and am passionate about the natural world and it being an ally to mental health. Currently I am devoted to Tantra and journeying deeper into the sensual arts as a tool for healing.

I bring all of this into the seat of being a therapist, most importantly the experience of being human and experiencing life wildly.

Education & Experience

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist,
CA# 114378

M.A - California Institute of Integral Studies, Integral Counseling Psychology, 2015

B.A - Brown University, Modern Culture & Media and Ethnic Studies, 2004

PSYCHOLOGY TRAININGS:
Certified Sex Therapy Training - California Institute of Integral Studies, 2021

2-Year Relational Pscyhodynamic Depth Oriented Psychotherapy Training - Women’s Therapy Center, 2014-2016

ADDITIONAL HEALING TRAININGS:
Spirital Herbalism Level 1 + 2 Training - Sacred Vibes Apothecary, 2023-2024

Kundalini Yoga Teacher Training - 10th Gate LA/ Krishna Kaur, 2015

Prenatal Yoga Teacher Training - Golden Bridge NYC/Gurmukh, 2013

Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training - Reflections Yoga NYC/Paula Tursi - 2010

let’s connect

What is bringing you to your healing path right now? Let’s see if I may be a match for this part of your journey,