Whole and Complete

Triggered much? Lots of us have things that have happened in our lives that, left unresolved, still trigger ill feelings, and anxiety. Anxiety can be normal, but when it starts to interfere with our work, our creativity, our relationships, and our daily lives, then we need to take a closer look. In this episode, Dr. Shante explains how anxiety can be both a symptom of a larger issue or a disorder,...

In her song, "Cranes in the Sky", Solange Knowles describes battling depression as metal clouds. The Bible calls depression a "Spirit of Heaviness", and it's that constant, persistent weight that has debilitated millions of people. In this episode, Dr. Shante approaches depression through a spiritual lens and provides some guidance on how to battle the effects of depression. If you are consumed wi...

In the finale of the Battling Loneliness series, Dr. Shante invites Dr. Valencia Wiggins, LPC to share valuable insights on her studies of loneliness. In this episode, learn to examine the quality of your relationships, how to recognize codependency, and how to interrupt the progression of loneliness and isolation. Every Thursday in July 2020, Dr. Shante is facilitating a support group on Zoom. To...

In part two of the Battling Loneliness series, Dr. Shante highlights how loneliness can show up in an unconventional place: Failure. When people feel like they've failed, or are inadequate in someway, many respond in ways that compound loneliness and grief. This episode also showcases Biblical references to loneliness, and strategies to cope. Please support this podcast by leaving a review and sha...

You can be in a room full of people and still feel disconnected and lonely. You can have lifelong friends and feel like nobody "gets it". You can be married with children and still experience feelings of withdrawal and isolation. Loneliness is much more prevalent than we realize and it creeps up on us in subtle and insidious ways. In this episode, Dr. Shante shares the many ways that loneliness ca...

Did you know there was such a thing as race related trauma? Well, there is. The cumulative impact of being subject to overt and covert racism can take it's toll on our mental health and well being. On today's episode, Dr. Shante invites Dr. Richard Orbe'-Austin, a licensed therapist who specializes in race-related trauma, to share ways of identifying, coping, and healing from the psychic toll of r...

Did you know Jesus was an activist? A social disruptor? That he challenged those in power and advocated for those who were marginalized, and poor? Christian Activism isn't a NEW idea; but it's one we need to revisit in lieu of recent events. What can we do to protest injustice? Once the protests end, what is our next step? Dr. Shante tackles these and other questions with special guest, Rev. Jaspe...

The sky is literally falling. The events of recent weeks specifically, the murders of Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and Ahmaud Arbery have brought racial tensions to fever pitch. It has been gut wrenching, heartbreaking, and soul draining. What is a believer to do? In this episode, Dr. Shante tackles that question head on with a breakdown of righteous anger, activism, and the hidden dangers of the...

When someone asks us how we're doing, regardless of our feelings, most of us default to "fine". Faking fine and being guarded teaches others that your feelings don't matter. In this episode, the Liar Series concludes with an ongoing conversation with Dr. Shante and Lauren Jackson, LCPC on how to be practice vulnerability and how to show up for others when we hear the truth that things aren't fine....

On part three of the Liar, Liar series, Dr. Shante engages in a robust discussion with Lauren Michelle Jackson, LCPC of Cultivate Your Essence mental health practice in Chicago. Lauren is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, Life Coach, Certified Domestic Violence,Professional, Speaker and Women’s Advocate, and in this episode she shares how to pivot away from limiting beliefs, how what we...

Being honest with our feelings is one of the hardest things to do, especially in a world that pounces on every mistake and weakness. But building walls, living out of integrity with who we really are has many of us paying a heavy toll. In part two of this series, Dr. Shante breaks down the damage of dishonesty with our emotions and how it hinders our wellness. This is part 2 of a 3 part series. To...

Lie. A small word with enormously destructive potential. We lie to our children, our spouses, our bosses and even ourselves. In this series, Dr. Shante tackles the self-destructive power of self-limiting beliefs and it's corrosive power on reaching our full potential. This is part 1 of a 3 part series. If you would like to support this show, you can do so at https://www.patreon.com/drshante

The Temptation Series ends with wise words from Dr. Tiffany Bellamy, PsyD. In this interview, Dr. Tiffany shares how to become the expert of yourself, how to establish systems of care, what to do when triggered, and how to reduce stress and tension during the global COVID pandemic.

In Part 1 of the Temptation Series; Dr. Shante unpacked the root of Temptation and the cost of saying "Yes". In this episode, Dr. Shante explores the matter of temptation from the perspective of blaming God, trusting God, and experiencing the peace of God during a global pandemic. This is part 2 of a 3 part series.

Fear. Anger. Grief. Loss. Frustration. Loneliness. These are many of the emotions that we are collectively feeling while we grapple with the realities of a global pandemic. But these emotions also make us susceptible to temptation; to opening doors that would otherwise stay closed. In this episode, Dr. Shante shares how to recognize temptation, the roots of it, and the cost of it. This is part 1 o...

That's not clickbait. That's a grim reality for Dr. Shante. This brief episode takes a detour from the series format as Dr. Shante shares a firsthand account of what happens when COVID hits your household, the struggle to keep people safe, and the radical approach she's taking to battle the disease for herself and her parents.

"Hey Big Head"... that infamous text has been making the rounds during the COVID Pandemic as many people are tempted to return to toxic relationships out of boredom and longing for human connection. This is a prime example of the Spiritual Weight that Dr. Shante has encouraged listeners to lose during this series. On this episode, Dr. Shante invites Chantelle Bittings, LCPC to offer clinical persp...

One of the biggest obstacles to losing physical weight is Comfort Food. When we turn to food out of stress and anxiety, it will almost always lead to weight gain. Spiritual weight is no different. On this episode, Dr. Shante unpacks emotional comfort food, how it packs on spiritual pounds and what we can do to get rid of it. This is part 2 of a 3 part series. Coaching with Dr. Shante is available...

It's no secret that America is one of the most physically obese nations in the world. But many of the very same factors that contribute to physical obesity, are crippling us spiritually and emotionally as well. In this episode, Dr. Shante begins the Weight Loss series with defining spiritual obesity, its impact, and what causes it. This is part 1 of a 3 part series. Coaching Sessions with Dr. Shan...

In the conclusion of the Origin Stories series, Dr. Shante invites Penny Miller, LCSW-C, of Better You Today to discuss how to overcome childhood dysfunction with regard to self efficacy, personal advocacy, and healthy relationship development. Penny can be found on social media @iampennymiller.

"You better not never tell nobody, but God". This quote from, The Color Purple (Alice Walker) typifies the experience of many who grew up believing that children should be seen and not heard; that the only person they could tell their problems to was God. In this episode, Dr. Shante defines and unpacks the ramifications of Celie Syndrome, why suffering in silence is NOT biblical, and the benefits...

Who taught you how to love yourself? Did your parents love themselves? Did they respect one another? How were these things evident (or not) during your childhood? And how have these dynamics impacted the way that you live, love, function, and communicate as an adult? In the Origin Stories Series, Dr. Shante connects the dots between the communication, and trust dynamics learned in childhood and th...

In the conclusion of the Cancer series, Dr. Shante invites Kristian Owens, LCSW, owner of Resilient Child Therapy in the DC area. On this episode, they share a conversation about the urgency of early intervention in childhood trauma, how it manifests in adulthood, and strategies that are effective for healing.

The cancer series continues as Dr. Shante breaks down something called Spiritual Metastasis. What happens when your initial hurt spreads to other areas of your life? This powerful episode will show you how to recognize it, understand it, and begin the process of removing it.

The inaugural series of the Whole and Complete podcast opens up with a deep dive into Spiritual Cancer, the overgrowth of negative thoughts and emotions that can consume and debilitate our mental health. In this episode, Dr. Shante defines what spiritual cancer is, how it develops, and what it does to our mental and spiritual health.