A) I graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) in 2009 with a Bachelor's in Women's Studies with a focus on gender inequality. It was during my time at VCU that I became very involved in bringing awareness to signs of sexual abuse and domestic violence through volunteering with the YWCA of Richmond. After graduating, I took a job in Corporate America but began doing a lot of volunteering with under privileged youth and sexual assault survivors. Corporate America was paying the bills but I was not feeling fulfilled. I decided to get my Masters and in 2012 I enrolled in South University. I was there for 2 quarters and then transferred to Walden University where I graduated from in 2015. In 2013, I left the corporate world and began working in the human services field full time. This journey was anything but easy as there were several challenges I faced due to not having the needed credentials though I had the experience. However, I still prevailed and worked with at-risk and under privileged youth in school and community settings. After graduating in 2015, more opportunities opened up for me, and I became a clinical supervisor for a community mental health agency. After a little over a year there, I realized I wanted to have direct access to the clients again and took a position with the Dept of Juvenile Justice as a therapist. This was one of my most fulfilling roles as it opened my eyes to how our youth can get caught up and lost in the judicial system. After almost three years at DJJ, I found myself being limited in the clinical care I could provide and I so knew the youth needed. It was also during this time, I became a LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor) in 2018. As a licensed individual, I finally reached the "top" in the counseling world. In January 2019, I began working for a CSB (Community Services Board) county government, as a full time therapist for youth and family. Again, due to politics that control government agencies, I felt limited in my care and noticed a repetitive theme of misinformation from marginalized families. Newly licensed and feeling limited, I decided it was time for me to take a leap of faith and start my own practice, which led to the birth of LegaCEE Inc.
Q) What services does LegaCEE Inc provide?
A) LegaCEE Inc provides individual and family therapy, parental coaching, life coaching and life skills groups.
Q) Can you explain from your perspective how important mental health services are in the black community and what benefits the black community can expect to see with an increase of mental health services?
A) As a black woman, I've witnessed and been victim to the lack of mental health services for the Black community. However, I wanted to know more and I wanted better for myself (not saying others don't). Given the generational trauma on top of day to day stress, it is very imperative that Black people tend to their mental health. For starters, our mental health impacts our physical health, so once we are well within the mind, the body is sure to follow; meaning there will become a decrease in health issues that plaque the black community such as diabetes and hypertension. Additionally, tending to the mental health of black children earlier on can help prevent the incarceration and homelessness rate for the Black community.
Q) In the black community there is oftentimes a stigma with receiving mental health services. What are your thoughts or suggestions on how to combat that stigma?
A) I am so glad this is a question. I just did a little video explaining this as a driving force behind the start of LegaCEE Inc. There is most definitely a stigma in regards to mental health, not just receiving it but even talking about it. For centuries, this is something Black people have been told is not for "us" or to just talk to the pastor. Now don't get me wrong, I am very spiritual and believe in the power of prayer but I also know God gifted me with the ability to help those with mental health needs as well. I say that to say "you can talk to your pastor and still have a therapist". The stigma around mental health is that it means something is "wrong with you" and that's so not true, but then again it is. Nothing is wrong with the person as an individual but it does mean that person will need extra attention to their brain. That's all it is. Our brains are an organ just like the heart but yet it is not taboo to visit a cardiologist for heart issues. If we start seeing the brain as the complex organ as it is, the stigma surrounding mental health will decrease, not only for the Black community but in general.
Q) Your company has a focus on youth services. What made you want to specialize in helping youth and how important is it to begin working with individuals at a young age in your line of work? Is there any scenario in your career that helped shape your direction with your company?
A) Starting out, I just knew I was going to be a full time therapist for sexual assault and domestic violence adult survivors. However, as I began working more and more with our youth, I saw firsthand how much they hurt, how much they are overwhelmed, overlooked, and discarded. You wouldn't think this was the case but it was/is. Then my time at DJJ just truly opened my eyes to how untreated mental health could lead our youth to make poor decisions that could negatively affect their lives forever and I couldn't handle that. I know how important it is to reach people at a young ago so why not? Honestly, it does get tough at times and it is easy to blame the adults in the life of the child but I truly believe guardians do the best they can with what they have so it is my job to not only help that young person but to help the family as well.
Q) How can people contact you to schedule services and are there any ways people can donate or offer support to assist?
A) To schedule an appointment, please feel free to email LegaCEECounseling@gmail.com or call (804) 412-8621. I currently accept Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Optum/United Behavioral Health and Medicaid with Anthem MCO. You can also self-pay for services. Donations and support of any kind is appreciated!!! Because of COVID-19, things have not been as expected but business is still open. Donations can be made through Paypal at PayPal.Me/legaceeinc. I would say the easiest support is to share LegaCEE's content via IG or Facebook.
Contact Information:
Email: LegaCEECounseling@gmail.com
Phone: (804) 412-8621
Facebook: www.facebook.com/LegaCEEInc/
IG: Legacee_Inc
Ms. Shareka Eldridge, LPC, Owner of LegaCEE Inc
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