Shakira O'Garro, LMHC-D, LPCC, LPC, NCC

PROFILE

Cheerful Heart Mental Health Counseling PLLC was born out of Shakira's personal journey with Endometriosis and Medical Trauma and a faith tried by chronic pain. Because of this, she realized how often women's stories of pain and resilience go unheard in traditional care systems. As a Black, English-speaking Christian practitioner, she is very active in her faith tradition and feels very comfortable sharing her spiritual beliefs to support the therapeutic process. With the client's consent or request, she incorporates holistic practices such as prayer, meditation, bibliotherapy, and biblical scripture into sessions. She is also very comfortable working with clients for whom faith plays a central role in their lives.

FAITH & VALUES STATEMENT

"While leaning on her relationship with Jesus Christ, she founded Cheerful Heart to create a space where clients feel truly seen, validated, and empowered to find joy in the midst of suffering. The practice was built on the belief that healing thrives in community, compassion, and collaboration and that every woman deserves a safe space to reclaim her strength and joy."

AREAS OF EXPERTISE 

Grief

Trauma and PTSD

Medical trauma and chronic illness

Women's issues

Faith and spirituality

CLINICAL APPROACHES 

EMDR, including group protocols (G-TEP, R-TEP)

Brainspotting

Prolonged Exposure

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Greif Support Groups

PAYMENT INFORMATION 

Individual Therapy: $225 per session

Limited sliding-scale spots available through our Community Care program for clients who need them

NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS:

AMBER ARTEAGA, STUDENT INTERN

Amber Arteaga is a supervised student intern at Cheerful Heart, completing her mental health counseling training at Liberty University under the supervision of Shakira O'Garro, LMHC-D. Born and raised in New York City, Amber spent five years in cross-cultural ministry in Southeast Asia, and she brings that experience into the counseling room. She works with missionaries, immigrants, and expats; anxiety, stress, burnout, life transitions, career shifts, cross-cultural adjustment, self-esteem, and relationship concerns. Amber sees individuals and couples in person in White Plains and online across New York and offers a free initial consultation.

• Full fee: $125 per session

• Pro bono and reduced-fee spots available through the Open Path Collective: (inquire directly with clinician)