Shakira O'Garro LMHC-D, LPC, LPCC, NCC (Cheerful Heart Mental Health Counseling PLLC)

(she/her)

License#: D-007634

  • Pronouns
    (she/her)
Location
Description

Christian therapy and EMDR therapy for BIPOC women navigating chronic illness, anxiety, and medical trauma. Providing specialized online therapy for BIPOC women throughout California (including Los Angeles, San Diego, and the Bay Area), South Carolina (including Columbia, Charleston, and Greenville), New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut, as well as in-person counseling in White Plains, New York (conveniently located for Westchester and Fairfield Counties).

I help high-achieving BIPOC women process medical trauma (including endometriosis, chronic pain, surgical complications, and medical gaslighting) calm their nervous systems, and rebuild trust in their bodies, while integrating faith without spiritual bypassing. I also help high-achieving Christian women work through loss, betrayal, chronic stress, health struggles, church hurt, and burnout, especially when it triggers a crisis of faith. Many of the women I work with are professionals, executives, caregivers, and ministry leaders (or the “strong ones” who encourage everyone else) who don’t know where to put their pain.

Therapy with me is a place to take the mask off. We’ll name what hurts, explore fears and doubts, and address trauma responses that can keep you stuck, overfunctioning, shutting down, spiraling, or feeling emotionally numb. We’ll also work through the spiritual layers: disappointment with God, anger, doubt, fear of judgment, and the pressure to be “a good Christian” instead of a whole and imperfect person.

If you want counseling that respects your faith and offers real clinical support, I’d love to help. I integrate Christian faith into therapy in a way that honors your beliefs, without minimizing your pain or pressuring you to “be positive.”

Next step: Visit www.cheerfulheartmhcpllc.com and click Book A Consult to schedule a free 15-minute consultation, a paid 30-minute consultation, or your first appointment. In-person sessions are conveniently located in White Plains, NY, easily accessible for clients throughout Westchester County, Scarsdale, and surrounding areas.

I look forward to connecting with you!

Insurance Providers
Practice Details
  • Street Address
    30 Glenn St Suite 205
  • City
    White Plains
  • Zip Code
    10603
  • State of Practice
    California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, South Carolina
  • Describe Your Practice
    Online and In-Office
  • Hours of Service
    Daytime (9a - 5p), Evening (after 5p), Weekend (Sat/Sun)
  • Accepting New Clients
    Yes
  • Virtual Therapy
    Yes
  • Prescribes Medication
    No
  • My Website
    https://cheerfulheartmhcpllc.com/
  • Group Therapy Available
    Yes
  • Offers Pro-Bono Sessions
    No
Group Therapy Details

Medical Trauma & Chronic Illness EMDR Group for Black Women with Endometriosis (Virtual)

Status: Waitlist open (6-week run, new cohort beginning September 2026)

Investment: $250 if paid upfront ($50 per session)

Licensing: Open to residents of NY, NJ, CT, PA, SC, and CA

This EMDR therapy group is for women with endometriosis who want to process medical trauma, anxiety, and the emotional weight of living with chronic illness, so you can feel calmer, less triggered, and more grounded. This small, structured cohort is limited to 5 participants and meets weekly for 6 weeks via a HIPAA-compliant secure video platform. We use the EMDR Group Traumatic Episode Protocol (GTEP), a guided approach designed to reduce trauma activation, support nervous system regulation, and build resilience and self-trust in an intimate group setting. This is a structured therapy cohort. Brief screening required.

Anxious Attachment & Dating Anxiety EMDR Group for Christian Women (Virtual)

Status: Waitlist open (3-week run), new cohort beginning September 2026

Investment: $250 if paid upfront ($100 per session)

Licensing: Open to residents of NY, NJ, CT, PA, SC, and CA

Dating anxiety can be exhausting; overthinking texts, fearing rejection, or shutting down when someone is inconsistent. This EMDR-informed therapy group is for single Christian women who want to date with more peace, confidence, and discernment. We use structured EMDR-based group protocols (GREP2 + GTEP) to strengthen nervous system regulation and target the roots of dating fear, heartbreak, ghosting, betrayal, and faith-related shame so you can respond with calmer reactions and steadier self-trust. You can expect faith-honoring, trauma-informed group work, tools to reduce spiraling and avoidance, and support for boundaries, discernment, and self-trust. Brief screening required.

Women's Health Professionals EMDR Trauma Group (Virtual)

Status: Waitlist open (6-week run), new cohort beginning September 2026

Investment: $250 upfront or $50 per session

Licensing: Open to residents of NY, NJ, CT, PA, SC, and CA

You chose this work because you care deeply about women. But nobody prepared you for what it costs to witness loss, deliver devastating news, and hold space for your patients without anyone holding space for you. If you've noticed emotional numbness, intrusive thoughts about cases, or a slow disconnection from the work that once lit you up, this group was built for you.

This EMDR therapy group provides a confidential space specifically for OB/GYNs, midwives, doulas, and L&D/NICU nurses. This small, structured cohort is limited to 5 participants and meets weekly for 6 weeks via a HIPAA-compliant secure video platform. Using structured, evidence-based EMDR protocols, we'll process the secondary trauma and medical weight you've been absorbing so you can keep showing up without burnout. Brief screening required. Join the waitlist.

Chronic Pelvic Pain & Chronic Pain Groups
Coming Fall 2026 | Waitlist Now Open

Living with chronic pain is its own invisible trauma. These trauma-informed therapy groups offer a safe, validating space to process the physical and emotional weight of long-term illness.

What themes are covered?
Medical Gaslighting: Processing the trauma of being dismissed or misdiagnosed by healthcare providers.

Grief & Identity: Redefining your life and identity while mourning your body's limitations.

Anxiety & Loneliness: Managing the isolation of an unpredictable illness.

Somatic Grounding: Learning to listen to your body and protect your energy.

Who are these therapy groups for?
We offer two distinct, intimate cohorts (6 to 8 weeks, 5 to 10 women maximum):

Professional BIPOC Women’s Cohort: For Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color balancing demanding careers, caregiving, and chronic illness.

Inclusive Women’s Cohort: Open to women of all backgrounds living with chronic pain, pelvic pain, endometriosis, or adenomyosis.

How do I join the waitlist?
Spaces are strictly limited to preserve a close-knit dynamic. To secure your spot for Fall 2026, complete the contact form on my website or email hello@cheerfulheartmhcpllc.com. Pick the room where you will feel most at home.