Hi! I'm Sh'Niqua.
Thanks for stopping by! I am the owner and founder of Restoring Serenity Counseling Center, PLLC.
Each day, I help people who long to rise above their struggles but are buried under life's challenges and pain.
I know from my own path to wellness that change is not easy to make; burdens are not always easy to overcome. My ultimate goal is to help you facilitate a transformation that leads you on your own personal journey of healing.
I want you to be able to look at your life and feel proud. To be able to say that no matter what is behind you, you like where your life is headed. I can help you uncover strengths that you already possess; sometimes they are just hidden out of view.
Choosing me as your therapist guarantees a safe place to share. I offer a compassionate spirit, genuine listening, and a nonjudgmental perspective. In my presence, you will always be seen and feel heard.
If you are ready to take the first step on the path toward restoring serenity, contact me today.
The relationship you build with your therapist is one of the most important aspects of counseling. I want to join with you and help you create your own change. I will work to meet you where you are and get you where you want to be. I desire to help you realize and expand upon your strengths and resources and make them greater. I operate from the following therapeutic frameworks:
Client-centered therapy allows you to take an active role by deciding your goals for treatment. This method of therapy provides an opportunity for self-awareness and long-term change
Trauma-informed care and trauma-specific interventions
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) skills, solution-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing
Phase 1 Certified Brainspotting Practitioner
Specific to my work with children, ages 5 and older, I am primarily trained in child-centered play therapy, a play-based mental health intervention. This method of treatment utilizes play, the natural language of children, in a therapeutic environment to decrease symptoms and behaviors and improve overall functioning.
Philosophy of Therapy
“To impact the lives that I touch in such a way that they are changed for the better. To collaborate with you and listen intently to the fears, vulnerabilities, and barriers that you face. To identify your strengths and help you achieve your goals. To provide guidance and support when you need it the most. To help transform hurt, trauma, and adversity into personal empowerment. To restore you to your place of serenity.””
Official Bio (just a little more about me, in case you’re curious)
Dr. Sh'Niqua Alford is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Board Approved Supervisor, as well as a Registered Play Therapist.
Doctor of Social Work - Barry University, 2023
Master of Social Work - University of Texas at Arlington, 2014
Bachelor of Social Work - Texas Christian University, 2005
Over the past 20 years, Sh'Niqua has worked in a variety of social work/clinical settings:
Social work professor: equipping social work students with the knowledge to become competent, ethical, and skilled social work leaders
Psychiatric facilities: therapist providing children, adolescents, and adults with mental health assessment and treatment
School social worker: supporting and mentoring pregnant/parenting teenagers to overcome barriers and achieve success as both a parent and student
Child welfare system: caseworker and supervisor assisting children in foster care and their families to overcome trauma, abuse, and neglect