Hidden Gems: Meet Shelly-Anne Johnson of MindRise Therapy

Today we’d like to introduce you to Shelly-Anne Johnson.

Hi Shelly-Anne, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
Honestly, I feel like I’ve been a therapist my entire life. Even as a child, I was always the mediator, the one friends and family came to when they needed someone to listen or help them make sense of things.
The life-changing moment came in 9th grade during my first psychology class. We were learning about Freud, and I remember thinking, “Wait…you can get paid to talk with people and help them through their problems?” I was hooked. I became fascinated with the human brain, with understanding why people do and think the things they do.
However, my life took many twist and turns. I tried many different jobs, took detours, explored other paths until I finally decided to do what my spirit already know I was destined to do. They say your calling can be elusive sometimes because it’s the thing that comes so naturally, you don’t even think of it as an actual career.
Today, I’m grateful to help people from all walks of life tackle their mental health concerns and find their way back to the life they’ve imagined. I get to help them come back home to themselves.

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?
A smooth road? Most definitely not! Before I could truly show up for my clients the way I wanted to, I had to heal from my own past traumas and come back home to myself. I battled imposter syndrome, constantly questioning whether I was “enough” or if I had lived enough life to provide the lived experience that some clients needed. I procrastinated out of fear of failure. I even ran from this career for a while, faced rejections, and struggled with a deep sense of not belonging.
The funny thing is, through it all, I was always counseling people in one capacity or another. Whether it was friends, coworkers, or family, I couldn’t escape it, because it’s who I am.
Once I finally accepted and stepped into my calling, everything shifted. Don’t get me wrong, it hasn’t been easy. But it’s been the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done. There’s something powerful about walking through your own fire and then being able to guide others through theirs. My struggles prepared me.

We’ve been impressed with MindRise Therapy, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
MindRise is a therapy and wellness practice rooted in compassion, cultural humility, and meaningful transformation. I created MindRise to help people feel seen, supported, and empowered to live fuller, more connected lives. Born in the Caribbean and raised in California, my multicultural background allows me to connect authentically with individuals from diverse racial and ethnic communities.

I am a clinically trained therapist with over a decade of experience, specializing in peri- and postpartum mental health, as well as anxiety, depression, trauma, and identity-related challenges. I am best known for my integrative approach, using EMDR and Internal Family Systems (IFS) alongside CBT and other evidence-based modalities to meet each client where they are. What sets MindRise apart is the belief that therapy should be personalized, not one-size-fits-all.

Beyond clinical work, I am proud of MindRise’s commitment to community impact, research, and advocacy. Brand-wise, I am most proud that MindRise represents depth, integrity, and genuine care. I want readers to know that MindRise is a space where healing is possible and where no one has to suffer in silence.

What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The quality that is foundational of both my work and my success is self-awareness paired with resilience. My path has not been smooth, and I’m grateful for that. One of the things that I say when times get hard is “Thank you Universe for this opportunity to grow.”
Walking through my own fire taught me humility, empathy, and courage, and those experiences now allow me to guide others with authenticity and compassion.

Pricing:

• I Accept UHC & Aetna health insurances
• I also accept self-pay clients on a sliding scale. $150

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mindrisetherapy.com/