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. Dr. Shawna Marie is also certified as a Registered Yoga Teacher, hypnotherapist, and life coach. With all her credentials and training, she has one core mission in life: facilitating evolutionary living. Healing Truth Center, founded in 2007, is her primary vehicle for this mission. Through her books, consulting, and trainings, Dr. Shawna Marie supports life transformation.
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 Marie 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 Marie 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 Marie 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 Marie 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 Marie completed her doctor of social work degree at Simmons University in May 2024 with a focus on diversity, equity, inclusion, power analysis, and antiracism in clinical care, education, supervision, and organizational leadership.
HEALER and TEACHER
Dr. Shawna Marie is a self-proclaimed “student of life.” It is her exposure to spiritual principles and practices, which began in her early childhood, that 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 Marie had a keen intuition, empathic abilities, and at times would have both premonitions and prophetic dreams. After her college years at Boston University, Dr. Shawna Marie 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 Marie 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 Marie 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 is what truly saved my life.”