Today we’d like to introduce you to Shaletha Richard.
Hi Shaletha, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
My journey has been rooted in both purpose and calling. I have always had a heart for helping people, especially those navigating stress, trauma, and major life transitions. That passion led me to pursue my Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and become a Licensed Professional Counselor.
Early in my career, I worked in settings that allowed me to see firsthand how mental health impacts every part of a person’s life, especially within schools, families, and community systems. Working with adolescents and families deepened my conviction that access to quality counseling can truly change the direction of someone’s life.
Over time, I felt called to build something of my own, and Richard Counseling Services was born. Starting my private practice has been both exciting and stretching. I have had to learn the business side, credentialing, marketing, and insurance panels, all while continuing to show up clinically for my clients. Through it all, I have remained committed to creating a space that is faith-centered, clinically sound, and emotionally safe.
Today, my vision is bigger than individual sessions. I want to help design scalable school-based counseling models, advocate for more LPCs in school systems, and influence mental health access at a higher level. My goal is to build systems that make healing more accessible.
Personally and professionally, I am in a season of intentional growth. I am stepping into this chapter grounded in prayer, strategy, and preparation, believing for breakthrough emotionally, spiritually, and professionally. This journey has been about alignment: aligning my calling, my education, my faith, and my leadership. And I truly believe I am just getting started.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
No, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road, but it has been a meaningful one.
Starting my private practice came with a steep learning curve. Navigating insurance panels, contracts, business operations, marketing, and financial uncertainty while still growing as a clinician stretched me in ways I didn’t anticipate. There were moments where I had to learn how to lead while still learning myself.
I’ve also faced seasons of self-doubt, especially as I’ve stepped into entrepreneurship and begun pursuing bigger goals around systems change and advocacy. Balancing the emotional weight of clinical work, the demands of running a business, and my own personal growth has not always been easy.
At the same time, every challenge has refined me. It has strengthened my confidence, resilience, and clarity about my purpose. I’ve learned that growth often happens in uncomfortable seasons, and those experiences have pushed me to become not only a stronger clinician, but also a stronger leader.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
Richard Counseling Services is a private practice focused on providing intentional, high-quality mental health care for individuals navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, relational stress, and emotional overwhelm. My work centers on helping clients gain clarity, emotional stability, and practical coping tools that lead to real, sustainable change.
I specialize in working with children and adolescents navigating emotional regulation challenges, academic stress, identity development, peer relationships, behavioral concerns, trauma, and family dynamics. My experience in school-based counseling has given me a deep understanding of how mental health impacts both academic performance and social development. I work closely with families to strengthen communication, build emotional intelligence, and create practical strategies that support long-term resilience. With younger clients, I integrate developmentally appropriate interventions, psychoeducation, and parent collaboration to ensure growth extends beyond the therapy room.
In addition to children and adolescents, I also work with adults who may appear high-functioning on the outside while internally carrying stress, burnout, unresolved trauma, or pressure from life transitions and responsibilities. Many of the adults I work with are professionals, caregivers, or individuals seeking emotional support, healing, and structured personal growth.
My approach blends clinical excellence with warmth, psychoeducation, and a faith-informed perspective when desired by the client. What sets my practice apart is the balance between compassion and structure. Sessions are intentional, collaborative, and grounded in evidence-based modalities such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Trauma-Focused CBT (TF-CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), while also honoring each client’s values and lived experiences.
I am also deeply passionate about system-level impact, particularly increasing access to Licensed Professional Counselors within school systems. That passion shapes how I think about accessibility, prevention, and long-term community change.
What I’m most proud of is that Richard Counseling Services represents professionalism, safety, integrity, and growth. It reflects who I am faith-driven, purpose-centered, and committed to excellence. More than anything, I want people to know this is more than a therapy service; it is a space for healing, clarity, breakthrough, and sustainable emotional wellness across every stage of life.
Risk taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I would not describe myself as reckless, but I do believe growth often requires intentional risk. For me, risk is less about impulsive decisions and more about being willing to step into uncertainty when I feel aligned with a bigger purpose or vision.
One of the biggest risks I’ve taken was starting Richard Counseling Services. Leaving the comfort and stability of traditional positions to build my own practice required a lot of faith, discipline, and resilience. I had to navigate financial uncertainty, learn the business side of mental health, build credibility, and trust that what I was creating would grow over time. There were definitely moments where things felt uncomfortable or unclear, but I knew I wanted the freedom to build something that truly reflected my values and approach to care.
Another risk has been allowing myself to think beyond individual therapy sessions and step into leadership, advocacy, and systems-level conversations. As a clinician, it can feel safer to stay within what you already know, but I’ve felt called to think bigger — particularly around increasing access to Licensed Professional Counselors in schools and creating scalable mental health support systems. Pursuing that vision requires stepping outside of my comfort zone and believing I’m capable of contributing at a higher level.
My perspective on risk has evolved over time. I’ve learned that some of the most meaningful opportunities come with uncertainty. I try to approach risk prayerfully, strategically, and with preparation rather than fear. Even when something does not go exactly as planned, I believe there is value in taking aligned action because it creates growth, clarity, and confidence.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://richardcounseling.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/richardcounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/richardcounselingjs
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/82310165/admin/dashboard/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@therapywithshaletha
