Dr. Shawn Ricks is passionate about helping women and girls discover the path to self-love. She is an experienced counselor, trainer and author.  Dr. Ricks offers a wide array of coaching, counseling, training, and speaking services specializing in areas of social justice, equity and empowerment. She is a Licensed Professional Counselor Associate as well as a Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist Associate. Dr. Ricks will inspire you to step into yourself fully and wholly. Too often people act as pigeons, heads down and thankful for crumbs. Dr. Ricks will encourage you to start “peacockingâ€â€”to stand tall, spread your feathers and live out your dreams!
Originally from Philadelphia, Dr. Ricks has overcome several life challenges in pursuit of her dreams. She completed her undergraduate and graduate degrees at The Pennsylvania State University as a single mother, and completed her Ph.D. at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro as a married, working mother of three. These experiences helped her learn more about how to help others believe in themselves, without falling into the trap of being a superwoman. She learned how to take off her cape, and rest—and now she encourages women to pursue balance in pursuit of optimum physical and mental health. Sit on the couch and learn more about the good doctor!
How would you describe your swagher? What makes Shawn, Shawn?
Shawn: What makes Shawn, Shawn is my contagious personality, my passion for life, my humor and my ability to synthesize my “book†knowledge with my lived experiences. I am comfortable in the board room and in the beauty shop.
Fancy: What topics do you typically speak on?
Shawn: I typically speak on issues of women’s empowerment, particularly how to find their passion. As an expert on Black women’s mental health, I also speak on the importance of healing wounds, acknowledging trauma, and learning to begin the healing journey through of lens of self-care and self-love.
Fancy: So in many ways you’re like a confidence coach?
Shawn: Yes, but in a way that allows you to finally begin to look at yourself (deep within yourself) to find the things you need to refill yourself. To realize that just as you are—in THIS moment—you are ENOUGH. You are whole.
Fancy: What are the title(s) of your book(s)?
Shawn: Psychological Tight Spaces: One Black Feminist’s Journey into Academia and Write Your Own Story: A Handbook (this uses book chapters as an illustration of our lives and encourages us to take ownership of our lives). I also have a TedX talk with the same name.
Fancy: What tips would you give women to avoid falling into the superwoman role?
Shawn: Strive for balance in all things and in all ways. Look at the motives for your behaviors. Realize you don’t have to do everything. Encourage a community culture that recognizes that at our best we are rested and whole.
Fancy: What has been your biggest obstacle whether professionally or personally, and how did you overcome it?Â
Shawn: My biggest obstacle was an unplanned pregnancy while an undergraduate student at Penn State. To overcome it, I relied on my faith in the Universe to work things out. My community circle of sistah-friends, and the shared wellspring of ancestral strength. I acknowledged and took help when it was offered. I deviated from the plan as necessary. I stopped striving for perfection and started accepting perfection of each moment.
Fancy: How do you balance the many hats you wear?
Shawn: That’s a tough question. I do have a lot of things that I balance, I think I try to look at it in terms of holistic approach that these aren’t necessarily different roles that I play, But more so an integration and slightly different application of the core values of who I am. So, for example one of my roles is as a professor and in that role I teach. Another one of my roles is as a parent, but isn’t that teaching also? So it is easier for me to handle these roles when I realize the core things that I really do and that those things manifest themselves differently depending on the space in which I am.
Fancy: Do you have any upcoming events or projects that you care to share?
Shawn: Yes, I have a 3rd book coming out on Black women’s self-care and self-love. I have a monthly affirmation group that starts on the first of each month and costs $25 to join. I send an affirmation every morning to each individual. I have just started coaching sessions by Skype as well, and that has been very rewarding!
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