Shaneka
McClarty is a southern girl with a love for all things sweet; she enjoys sweet
treats, sweet talks and sweet people. She is a licensed therapist with a
Masters Degree in Counseling Psychology from Argosy University (Atlanta, GA)
and a Bachelor’s Degree from Stillman College (Tuscaloosa, AL).
Shaneka has been practicing for over ten years focusing on relationships,
particularly women’s issues and couples. Her company, Therapy Girl LLC, is
set up to provide counseling services, consulting, workshops, and motivational
speaking. Shaneka hosts a weekly internet-based radio show, Open Up with
Therapy Girl, on Blog Talk Radio each Sunday @ 2:00 p.m. EST. In addition, she
is a published author of the book, The Heart of a Woman: Reclaim,
Release and Renew.
Shaneka is a
hope-builder helping people move from fear to faith. She speaks frequently to
women’s groups, conferences, and non-profit organizations. She resides in
Atlanta with her husband, Leonardo, and their three beautiful princesses.
You can visit
Shaneka’s website at www.therapygirl.net.
Can you tell us
what your book, The Heart of a Woman: Reclaim, Release and Renew, is about?
My book is about empowering women, who have been hurt in their
relationships, to love and honor themselves, let go of the unhealthy
relationship and choose to live a life that brings them joy. The book is
formatted to help women to see the patterns of behavior that hurt them in
relationships and to identify where their thought process was at the time that
allowed them to become so vulnerable. This is not a dating advice book; instead
it’s a life-lesson book about character, love and strength.
Why did you
write your book?
I wrote this book
because I see so many hurting women in my private practice who are struggling
with the question, “Why?” Women are asking themselves, “Why did he cheat? Why
did he leave me? Why did he choose her?” The question ‘Why’ causes more pain
and it keeps women from healing. I wanted women to see beyond the ‘Why’ by
choosing to lead them to the root of their pain.
What kind of
message is your book trying to tell your readers?
The message is
simply reclaim your power by honoring yourself, release the pain so that you
can thrive and love again and renew your mind from the negativity so that you
can see hope in your future.
Is it hard to
publish a nonfiction book?
It was not difficult
to publish this book because I considered it as a gift to help so many women.
This was truly a passionate project for me as I wanted to reach so many women
and share my message.
What would you do with an extra hour today
if you could do anything you wanted?
I would sleep if I had an extra hour. My days are long and busy so an
extra hour of sleep would be like paradise for me.
Which holiday is your favorite and why?
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. I am a thankful person but I like
the energy Thanksgiving brings. It’s a holiday where people have the permission
to boldly express what they are thankful for and its always for the simple things
that we take for granted (family, life, friends, food, etc.).
If we were to meet for lunch to talk books,
where would we go?
We would visit Stillman College in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. There, we would
walk through the beautifully lined Magnolia trees and the picturesque colonial
style buildings to sit and talk at the Sheppard Library in the James O’Rourke
African American Collection room where the walls are filled with the most
sacred and pure historical writings by African-American authors. I graduated
from Stillman College in 1997. I spent
a lot of intimate, meditative time in that library. I didn’t go there to study;
I went there to be inspired.
What do you like to do for fun?
I love music and laughter. If you put those two together I would say the
best experience would be a comedy musical. I truly enjoy all types of music and
going to concerts. Music is also my way of running away from reality in that it
helps to soothe me whenever life becomes overwhelming. Laughter is my medicine
that comforts my soul. I am lucky to have a husband with a sense of humor.
Can you tell us about your family?
If I must say so, I have a beautiful family. I have been married to my
husband, Leonardo, for eleven years and we have three beautiful daughters. Sage
is our talented and creative six-year-old and Sydney and Sarai are our active
and inquisitive 19-month-old identical twins. We have a lot of love and
laughter in our home and we are very close. I was born and raised in the South
and I feel to have my mom and in-laws nearby as well as my sister and her
family. Family is so important to me and I value the time we spend together. I
lost my father and my only brother at a tender age. Those painful experiences
taught me to honor every moment with the people I love.
What do you like the most about being an
author?
Becoming a published author has allowed me to meet people that I probably
would not have had the opportunity to meet before. I have received emails from
women sharing their stories of heartbreak and how my book has helped them. In
addition, I have been able to meet book club members, radio personalities and
of course, you. I love connecting with people and this interview is another way
for me to connect and open up.
What kind of advice would you give other non-fiction
authors?
My advice would be
not to write a book for fame or fortune. Write your non-fiction to inspire and
encourage others. Leave a lasting impression that will echo in the future long
after you have been silenced. Take your time with your writing project, get
support from editors and work on a marketing plan before you publish.
