DR. SHAWNA MARIE  is a native New Yorker of Jamaican heritage whose deep committment to self-discovery and healing led her to an extensive study of spiritual teachers, healers, philosophers and perspectives. She received ordinations in 2003, 2006, and 2008 and simultaneously received her Master of Social Work degree with specialized training in clinical practice in mental health and psychiatric settings. In 2024 she completed her doctor of social work degree with a focus on clinical practice, leadership, and education grounded in critical race theory, diversity, equity, inclusion, intersectionality, power analysis, and anti-racism. Dr. Shawna is an author, scholar, educator, and organization leader with one core mission in life: facilitating evolutionary living. Through her books, consulting, trainings, and leadership, Dr. Shawna supports wellness in life and in organizations.

AUTHOR and PUBLIC FIGURE
In 2009, she wrote and published her first book, Prosperity NOW! In 2010, further expanding upon the teachings in her book, Dr. Shawna began blogging and podcasting, inspiring a loyal following. She also produced the Living in Spiritual Perspective Show via podcast and live streaming video, with an accompanying blog. In 2011 she completed her second book Only God. As a result of her positive impact on others, Dr. Shawna has been a featured speaker at spiritual centers, churches, and women’s events. She also served as the In-House Therapist at several community events throughout New York.

PSYCHOTHERAPIST and CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
Prior to becoming a published author, Dr. Shawna a embarked on a full-time career as a psychotherapist in community mental health. She completed her master’s degree in Social Work from New York University in 2007 and later received her LCSW licensure as a Clinical Social Worker and her CASAC license as a Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor. Dr. Shawna has supported hundreds of individuals and families via psychotherapy for nearly 20 years, and done incredible work strengthening and expanding integrated mental health and addiction services in lower Westchester, New York. She is respected for her extensive experience in training therapists and program leaders as well as in social services administration. Dr. Shawna completed her doctor of social work degree at Simmons University in 2024 with a focus on equity, inclusion, power analysis, and antiracism in clinical care, education, supervision, and organizational leadership. Her scholarship as a Doctor of Social Work candidate focused on the mental health, wellness, and liberation of U.S. American middle-adult aged Black men – a remarkably underserved subpopulation for which she has developed an intervention entitled The BeLoved Black Men Academy.

ORGANIZATION & PROGRAM LEADER
Dr. Shawna has worked in small as well as large-scale major corporations holding progressive leadership roles. After a career in corporate philanthropy where she supervised millions of dollars in annual national charitable giving and community awareness programs supporting the areas of HIV/Aids, Domestic Violence, and Human Services, Dr. Shawna shifted her focus to healthcare and community-based social services. She’s contributed to child welfare, inpatient psychiatry, adolescent health, college and career programs, youth justice, community based mental health and substance use treatment programs, and supported housing. From clinical social worker to Director of Mental Health Programs, Chief Operating Officer, and Chief Strategy & Program Officer/SVP of Programs at a Westchester, NY community based non-profit organization where she dedicated 15 years, Dr. Shawna has faithfully supported program innovation and impact. She has been a steadfast champion of innovation and quality programs in addition to wellness at work and the cultivation of Trauma-Informed, Equity-focused, Resilience-Oriented Systems of care. She maintains a longstanding commitment to social justice, social care, education, and wellness for all. Dr. Shawna aims to foster holistic wellness in life and work including efforts to support those among us who are underserved, under-resourced, marginalized, and oppressed. Dr. Shawna now serves as the President & CEO of Blanton-Peale Institute & Counseling Center.

HEALER and TEACHER
Dr. Shawna is a self-proclaimed “student of life.” Exposure to spiritual principles and practices in her early childhood years has provided a foundation for her. “As early as three years old,” she recalls, “I joined my grandfather in the middle of the night for meditation, yoga, and readings from his vast collection of books by various philosophers and writers. These early experiences—combined with my natural inquisitiveness—led me to explore and appreciate different philosophical perspectives about life and spirituality.”

Perhaps due to the types of meditations she was learning from her grandfather, Dr. Shawna had a keen intuition, and at times would have both premonitions and prophetic dreams. After her college years at Boston University, Dr. Shawna was led to a spiritual teacher through a dream. She then began studies in energy healing, meditation, prayer methods, metaphysics, theology, philosophy, psychology, yoga, and more. After completing training as a spiritual healing practitioner and teacher, Dr. Shawna continued her studies while pursuing formal education in mental health and wellness.

She summarizes her discovery of the mind and spirit as her greatest gift. Dr. Shawna affirms that “I have come to learn there are many paths to understanding self and the universal truths of life and living. In order to find my path, integrating insights from the field of mental health coupled with spiritual principles and practices saved my life.”