Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Shama Panjwani.
Hi Dr. Panjwani, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was definitely not a smooth road to getting here. Dealing with the stress of my immigration status while trying to make money for tuition was challenging. Another struggle was the isolation of going through the academic process, licensure process, and the process of setting up a business. The other areas of life do not stop or cease to exist when building a professional identity and career. My story began as a 9-year-old immigrant in the U.S. I was always passionate about helping people and making a difference. I was fascinated with the brain and the mind and how they work and impact people’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. So, I decided to major in psychology during undergraduate studies. Around the time of graduation, I realized there are not many job opportunities with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and I would have to go for my master’s degree. All this was going on as I was having challenges with my immigration status despite being in the U.S. since the age of 9 years. This challenge created even more of a limitation on employment. When I went for my master’s 2 years later, after much research, I decided to become a clinical mental health counselor. Working with clients in different settings since then has been rewarding. A year after getting my master’s, I decided to accomplish my vision of being referred to as “Doctor” and get my PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision. Meanwhile, I was still dealing with the pressure of my immigration status that resolved itself Christmas of 2019, a semester before I finished my PhD program. As I was completing my PhD, I decided I wanted to expand my vision and begin my own practice. It was challenging to work towards this because I had no knowledge on how to begin my own business and no one around me who I could lean on. I began doing research on the process and came up with a name that speaks to my approach on holistic wellness and energy healing mindset along with empowerment for the marginalized groups. Soon after completing my doctorate, I launched SoHolisticEnergy Counseling and Consultation.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I am the CEO of SoHolisticEnergy Counseling & Consultation or S.H.E. The name was created by reflecting on my passion for holistic wellness and energy healing. The acronym, S.H.E., was also intentional to speak to my values of feminism and diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI). I specialize in trauma-informed care, focusing on attachment trauma, relationship trauma, racial/cultural trauma and intergenerational trauma, holistic wellness practices, acculturation issues, multiculturalism, LGBTQ+, and mood disorders. I primarily work with adults and some adolescents of diverse cultural backgrounds. My counseling approach is individualized based on individual needs. In addition to working with individual clients, I also provide supervision to aspiring counselors/therapist. Additionally, I work with organization and universities to educate on organizational leadership, DEI, and corporate/employee wellness. I also do speaking engagements, presentations, and workshops. What sets me apart is my experience, specializations, and personalized interventions. What I am most proud of is the growth S.H.E. has had in less than two years, and am grateful for all the positive feedback from clients.
How do you think about luck?
Luck is the phenomenon of events occurring by chance. I think luck has played little role in my life and business. I do feel blessed and grateful for how far I’ve come, but each event took place mostly due to my action and efforts towards them. As someone who is spiritual, I do believe that my faith contributed to the success I have experienced. Anything that did not work out well, for example, when pitches or proposals to write or present or even to begin a DEI/Wellness initiatives at organizations or universities did not pan out, I chose to view it as God’s redirection towards something bigger and better.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.soholisticenergy.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soholisticenergy/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/soholisticenergy/
