We had the good fortune of connecting with Shanta Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shanta, what’s the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I think the most important lesson that I’ve learned along my own journey is…the importance of me loving myself. And I am not talking about that fake love, that I wear nice clothes, get my hair and nails done every other week, and massages monthly type love. I am talking about loving the parts of myself, that I don’t even like sometimes type of love. Me owning my truths, type love. Me loving me so much that I worked on my healing so that I can be the most authentic version of myself, type love. Loving myself included me accepting myself. That is the best gift I can give to myself and my brand. You cannot go wrong with being you. We all have something special within us, we are all unique and created to do great things. You just have to put in the time, the patience, and the hard work to discover it. But its there. I may not have it all together, but I have it all. This is why I named my published journal that title. Because we always search the outside to discover things about ourselves, when actually….we already have it within us, it just doesn’t look like how we want it to look…but it’s there.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I am a therapist and co owner of Trinity Rising Counseling Center. Through the private practice I provide therapy services to adults, couples, and families. I use The Homegirl Therapist as a platform to make therapy more relatable, less scary, and motivational. I understand that representation matters in my community so I work hard at make sure that my audience, clients, and colleagues see someone who looks like them with similar life experiences. I think that my authenticity separates me from others, I am aware that I don’t have it all together, and that’s okay! I am just proud of the many women that I connect with through my brand, whether its on social media, at an event, or in therapy. I enjoy connecting with people who are on their healing journey and are working hard to be the best versions of themselves. I take pride in seeing that and knowing that I had a little something to do with it. Thats why I do what I do.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
I have a ton of people in my life who are a part of my story. But I have to show love and recognize two people, first my best friend, Almetria. Let me tell you….she has been down with me and my ideas since I can remember. She has contributed a lot to motivating me to keep pushing even when I don’t want too. She literally has dropped what she is doing to come and assist me in events here at home and in other states, and helping making my ideas come to life. She is a true rider. I can tell her what I need and she will get it done, no questions asked…she has truly been a help to me, and I am not sure I have thanked her enough…but I am so grateful and appreciative of her. Secondly, my brand manager and sister friend ToCorra! This woman has literally aided in making my idea a brand & business. She holds me accountable, she challenges me, and forces me to do things that I probably would say no to but she see’s the bigger picture and she’s always right. She is literally the best thing that has happened to The Homegirl Therapist. I appreciate her endless effort, her hard work, and her pushing and challenging me. She keeps me focused and she knows exactly what to say to make me snap out of my fear and self-doubt. I am so grateful to call her my brand manager but also a friend. She has the ability to tell when she needs to be my brand manager and when she needs to just be my friend and that skill is priceless. I appreciate and love both those ladies so much and I will forever be thankful for them!

Website: www.thehomegirltherapist.com & www.trinityrisingcounselingcenter.com
Instagram: @thehomegirltherapist @trinityrisingcounseling
Facebook: @thehomegirltherapist

Image Credits
@jojostylez