Helping women overcome obstacles to feel empowered & live fulfilling lives
About Dr. Shawn
Dr. Shawn Arango Ricks combines her lived experiences with more than 20 years of research and teaching. Dr. Ricks has a passion for helping individuals and organizations thrive. She is passionate about creating spaces where individuals can lead “well”—meaning they maintain their health and wellness within organizational cultures.
Her personal experience with burnout, as well as her work as a therapist, fuel her passion to help people learn strategies and tools to navigate life and work. For organizations, Dr. Shawn is committed to helping them create spaces where employees can thrive.
Dr. Shawn helps women debunk the myth of the superwoman and grind culture, and uses her skills as a coach, teacher, and trainer to guide others to creating their most joy-filled lives. She has created two highly successful empowerment programs, Sojourn to Self and No Mask, No Cape, and is the author of two books: Write Your Own Story: A Handbook and Psychological Tight Spaces: One Black Feminist Scholar’s Journey Into Academia.
Education
Ph.D., University of North Carolina at Greensboro
M.Ed. and B.A., The Pennsylvania State University
Licensure
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (NC)
Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist (NC)
Certifications
Hypnotherapy
Motivational Interviewing
Preventing Long-term Anger and Aggression in Youth
Strengthening Families
Dr. Shawn’s Books
In addition to being a nationally-recognized speaker and trainer, Dr. Shawn is a published author. Her books describe her journey as a Black woman, scholar, and feminist and guide others to finding their power and living their truth.
Media, press, Publications, & more
Busta Brown interviews Dr Shawn Ricks about suicide and mental health
The topic of suicide usually comes up when famous people kill themselves, such as Anthony Bourdain and Kate Spade. It’s a matter of mental health, which doesn’t get addressed much. Dr Shawn Ricks talks about it with Busta Brown. See the interview.
Changing the Font: Women Writing Their Own Stories | Shawn Arango Ricks | TEDxWinstonSalemWomen
This talk encourages women to recognize their role in shaping the trajectory of their lives. Teaching women and girls the four basic steps to begin to own/write/co-construct their own stories will provide the type of personal insights and skills necessary to create and empower both current and future generations of leaders. Watch Dr. Shawn’s TEDxTalk.
Yes! Magazine: I Stopped Playing the “Strong Black Woman”
"I never saw my grandmother rest. From morning to night, she appeared to be in service: cooking and cleaning, helping and caring for others. She died of a heart attack at 69. As I reflect today on the high rates of heart disease, stress, obesity, and other physical as well as mental ailments among African American women, I wonder what would have been the impact had she said, “I ain’t cooking tonight, everybody is on their own,” or “I’m headed out for a walk,” or simply, “I’m tired, and I need to rest.” What messages might I have inferred from watching her take 15 minutes of quiet time in the morning to “get centered.” Read the full article.
MBSF Podcast: Healing Generational Wounds with Dr. Shawn Arango Ricks
Much of what we experience in life can be a holdover from what has been passed down through many generations. Relationship patterns, alcoholism, poverty, abuse, etc. When these behavior patterns no longer serve us, what are some tools we can use to heal these generational wounds? We'll hear from Dr. Shawn Arrango Ricks, an intuitive spiritual healer who also has an academic and clinical background, as well as plenty of life experience to assist those seeking to create powerful change in their life. Listen to the podcast.
Blog Talk Radio Podcast: Discharge Plan
In this podcast, Dr. Shawn discusses the importance of letting go of traumatic experiences. Listen to the podcast.