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Shanika Melville, LMSW
I was born in Trinidad and Tobago, the native countries of both of my parents. My mother was born and raised in Trinidad and my father was born and raised in Tobago. I was born in Trinidad and raised in Brooklyn, New York. My father still lives in Trinidad till this day. My ethnic background is Caribbean American or Afro Caribbean.
I attended the City University of New York (CUNY) York College in Queens, NY and graduated with my bachelor’s degree in Social Work in December of 2016. I attended Fordham University and I graduated with my Master’s Degree in Social Work in May 2019. I am no longer in school. I do plan to further my education in the future.
I pursued a career in Social Work because Social Work fit who I was and ultimately who I have become. Social Work is a self-less, compassioned filled career that embodies what makes me, me!
I have worked at a non-profit agency as a counselor and family therapist for at-risk youth and their families.
I love working with Black people because I believe there are so many extraordinary characteristics to our people! I love our resilience, our creativity, our culture and I believe its important that those qualities have a safe place to thrive and shine in the people that possess them.
Yes, I have dealt with racism before. I was hurt and I cried. I allowed myself to feel the emotions and later on talked through the experience with a coworker as the event took place at work.
I have been trained in multidimensional family therapy, a holistic evidence based therapeutic approach that harps on the family’s strengths and goals.
I think clients experience my kindness, patience, openness, and earthiness. Clients have said that I’m straightforward but easy to speak to. I agree with them. I have many dimensions and I am very detail oriented, every detail matters.
I am strong-willed, creative, adventurous and a dog-lover!