D’Shawn Harris Is Building Safe Havens for Black Men’s Healing — Inside the Movement to Make Therapy a Form of Power, Not Pain
- Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine
- 18 minutes ago
- 4 min read
By Tammy Reese | Saturday, October 17 | Mind, Body, & Soul
For too long, silence has been mistaken for strength, especially among Black men carrying the unseen weight of generational trauma, pressure, and pain. D’Shawn Harris, M.Ed, LCPC, NCC, is changing that narrative with purpose and precision. As the founder of Safe Haven Therapy Services, Harris isn’t just offering counseling sessions, he’s cultivating spaces where vulnerability is honored, healing is normalized, and emotional freedom becomes a form of liberation.
A licensed psychotherapist and community advocate, Harris is on a mission to dismantle the stigma around therapy by showing that seeking help isn’t weakness, it’s wisdom. Through Safe Haven, he empowers men to reclaim peace, learn emotional fluency, and rewrite the rules of resilience. His message is clear: healing isn’t about surviving your story; it’s about finally feeling safe enough to tell it.
What inspired you to enter the mental health field, and what was the journey like from passion to licensed psychotherapist?
D’Shawn: My journey into the mental health field began with a deep curiosity about human behavior and a passion for helping others make sense of their inner world. Growing up, I saw firsthand how much strength it takes to face emotional pain in silence , especially in Black communities where vulnerability is often mistaken for weakness. That realization became my motivation.
The road from passion to licensure wasn’t linear; it required both academic rigor and personal growth. Every step from graduate training to clinical supervision , reshaped how I understood healing. I learned that therapy is not about “fixing” people but about helping them rediscover the parts of themselves that have always been whole. That lesson continues to guide my work today.
We applaud your inspirational work as a community advocate tackling the stigma of therapy for Black men. What initiatives are you currently working on in the mental health space?
D’Shawn: Thank you. Right now, I’m focused on growing and expanding Safe Haven to make therapy more accessible and culturally relevant for Black men. By broadening the team with more culturally competent clinicians and expanding to the areas & spaces that need it most through partnerships with organizations. While also continuing to advocate for mental health on different platforms. The goal is to normalize therapy, not as a crisis response, but as an act of self-preservation and power.
From your perspective, how would you describe mental wellness?
D’Shawn: Mental wellness is the balance between self-awareness, self-compassion, and emotional regulation. It’s not about constant happiness , it’s about cultivating resilience and peace, even when life feels uncertain. It’s learning to check in with yourself before you check out. True wellness is a daily practice of choosing yourself in small, consistent ways.
Please tell us about Safe Haven Therapy Services. What can a new client expect?
D’Shawn: Safe Haven Therapy Services was created to be just that , a haven. Clients can expect a space that’s warm, culturally affirming, and grounded in authenticity.
From the first session, we focus on building trust and understanding the whole person, not just the symptoms. Whether exploring trauma, identity, or everyday stress, therapy becomes a collaborative journey toward self-clarity and empowerment. I tend to describe it as feeling like clients can finally exhale , a place where they don’t have to perform strength, but just be human.
What are some ways society can end the stigma of therapy and mental health challenges?
D’Shawn: We end stigma by changing the narrative. That means shifting the conversation from “what’s wrong with you” to “what happened to you.” It means showing that therapy isn’t just for crisis , it’s for growth, success, and self-understanding.
Representation also matters. When people see therapists who look like them, speak their language, and understand their cultural context, it breaks down barriers. Media, schools, and workplaces can all play a role by normalizing therapy as part of wellness, not an exception to it.
What would you say to those who aspire to become therapists but are currently experiencing mental health challenges themselves?
D’Shawn: I would say: your healing doesn’t disqualify you , it deepens you. The best therapists are often those who have wrestled with their own pain and learned compassion through it.
Use this time to care for yourself, seek support, and allow your experiences to refine , not define you. You can’t pour from an empty cup, but once you refill it, what you pour will be richer and more authentic than ever.
What words of encouragement could you leave our readers with at this time?
D’Shawn: Give yourself permission to be both a work in progress and a masterpiece at the same time. Healing isn’t linear, and strength doesn’t always look loud. Sometimes, it’s the quiet decision to keep showing up for yourself.
No matter where you are in your journey, know that peace is possible , and you deserve it.
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About Tammy Reese
Owner of Visionary Minds Public Relations and Media, Tammy Reese is an award-winning writer and journalist best known for landing major interviews with Angela Bassett, Sharon Stone, Sigourney Weaver, Laurence Fishburne, Geena Davis, Billy Porter, Morris Chestnut, Nelly, Mona Scott Young, Giancarlo Esposito, Luke Evans, Sheryl Lee Ralph, Jennifer Connelly, Joseph Sikora, Meagan Good, Leon, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Phylicia Rashad, Omar Epps, Courtney Kemp, Vivica A Fox, Ryan Coogler, and so many more.
She is a proud member of ForbesBLK as well as New York Women in Film and Television.
Other articles by Tammy Reese in Vision & Purpose LifeStyle Magazine.
