Exploring Life & Business with Shanika Grant of Journey to Freedom Counseling Services

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shanika Grant.

Hi Shanika, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
At an early age, I have ALWAYS been a person that people felt comfortable with sharing things about themselves or their lives with me. I would often laugh and think why are these strangers always trying to talk to me! As I got older, I realized that this was something special that I held on the inside.

I attended the University of South Carolina-Aiken and earned my Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. I knew that I would have to go back for my Master’s at some point and the original plan was to become a guidance counselor. A few years passed, I gained experience in the mental health field, and I remember having a conversation with one of my sister-in-loves in her driveway and I was expressing the dream in my heart of going back to school and getting my degree in counseling.

I expressed I didn’t want to take on more debt for the degree, and she looked at me and said. Do it anyway, trust God!(Thanks Shomie!) A few weeks later I started working within my local school district and came to build a relationship with one of the behavior counselors and the guidance counselor at the school.

The guidance counselor told me about her experience with the university where she obtained her master’s for counseling. She put me in touch with a recruiter she knew there, and that same recruiter put me in contact with the head of the department for counseling. After speaking with him(Dr. Ickes) I was absolutely sure this was what I wanted to do.

The funny thing is he helped me to DREAM BIGGER. He said you can become an LPC(Licensed Professional Counselor) and it doesn’t limit you to only one type of counseling. He said that way I could work anywhere or even own my own business. When he said those words of owing my own business, I was already enrolled in my head! I talked it over with my husband, enrolled at Troy University-Augusta Campus, completed practicum and internships, graduated with my Masters in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, became a Licensed Professional Counseling Associate in SC, worked within different agencies, found community among other therapists and realized I could start my own private practice. And now here I am! Excited about the endless opportunities that God has provided and still providing for me.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I will say as far as the classes and work associated with the classes, no, that part seems to come really easy for me. That’s another reason I know God gave me this. It was like He literally walked me through every course, course assignment, and test. LOL!

I remember sitting down to take the licensure test and laughing to myself after I prayed. I was thinking if they go back and review these cameras, they will definitely see me taking a moment before I started with my hands together and my head bowed to ask God for guidance as I completed the test.

The struggles I feel are more internally related. It was the idea “Am I going to be an effective counselor? Will I really be able to help others? What if you don’t know all the clinical words to use?” What I realized is, that is normal! That every new counselor for a moment or a few moments doubts that what they learn was enough to really do the job.

The good thing is that NO ONE will ever know it all in this field, because the world is ever-changing and because of this, there will always be training for us to learn, adjust, and get better in this helping profession.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Journey to Freedom Counseling Services, LLC?
I provide virtual counseling/therapy services for women between the ages of 18-65 in the states of South Carolina and Utah. Yes, I’m dually licensed! I currently specialize in helping women to manage and reduce depression anxiety, stress, navigating life transitions, and the superwoman persona.

What I’ve come to realize is that as I work with some of my clients, they are also dealing with some form of trauma, whether it is from past childhood experiences, or something current. I am heavy on advocating for self-care and helping all individuals, not just women, to understand that self-care looks different for everyone and that it is NOT a privilege, but it should be a necessity for all! My question is always, How are you able to show up as your best self when you are beaten, broken down, drained, etc?

The only way you can be effective to pour into others is by showing up for yourself, being poured into, taking time to rest, and taking time for yourself. I know that I am set apart and that no one can successfully copy me or my style because as Psalms 139:149(NIV) says-“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” This lets me know that there is NO ONE that can do what Shanika Grant can do.

Every person meant to hear from me will get what they need from me, and if what I say doesn’t resonate with some that means that those words weren’t for them. I call myself the Freedom Therapist because after becoming free to walk in my full authenticity and boldness, I wanted to help others experience this freedom and be able to use the tools so that they are able to continue to walk in this freedom even after their treatment with me is complete.

The thing that I am most proud of about my brand is that I am able to use my clinical knowledge coupled with my freedom in being a child of God, and hearing from Him as I work with my clients. I literally don’t have to strive to work with my clients, I trust that God will lead me in every session. And He does, and I’m able to see it in my clients as they keep showing up, they keep doing the HW, their demeanor continues to change, and their words and their thoughts all continue to shift.

I want your readers to know that when you choose to work with me, you will be heard, and seen, in a safe space free from bias or judgment, I want them to know that I will encourage, motivate, challenge, and cheer you on, celebrate your big and small wins. I am here for you and I believe that there is greatness on the inside just needing to be released!

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Whew! When I think about risk, I think about doing something that you and even others are afraid to try. Risks make you give your all even when you don’t know how it will turn out. Taking this risk, to launch an online-only, self-pay private counseling practice was a risk for me!

I’ve tried business before and they weren’t as successful as I wanted them to be. But I chose not to give up, my husband (Ja’Coby) helped me to realize those businesses were just the start of getting me ready for the one! (Side note: I have the most amazing and supportive husband, children, and family!) After I was released from my last position in my 90-day probation window because of missed days due to school shut downs due to the spread of COVID and me or my children being sick, I decided to trust God and put in the work to open my own practice.

Even when I was still employed there, I was starting to make small moves to opening my own private practice, but I was taking my time because I was becoming comfortable with not having to do a lot of heavy lifting, which was the idea of being paid every 2 weeks, PTO, and weekends off. God is intentional that He didn’t let me just settle there because He had way more people for me to reach.

I was so nervous and didn’t know where to start, but as I continued to read His Word and pray, and let Him lead me doors were opening, He was directing my path in each way that I turned, and no I’m not fully where I want to be in my practice YET, but I know it will come to fruition. So yes risks can be scary, but the alternative is not walking in your full purpose and destiny.

Contact Info:

• Website:  https://www.journeytofreedomllc.com/
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/journeytofreedomcs
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/journeytofreedomcs
• Other: https://linktr.ee/JourneytoFreedomCS

Image Credits
Whitney Storey