Shareela Allen, LCSW is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 11 years of clinical experience in both the private and public sectors. Shareela is trained and certified in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Anger Management, and Grief and Loss for Children, Adolescents and Adults. She enjoys working with various populations however, children and teens are her favorite modalities. Shareela’s approach is relatable, strengths-based and collaborative. She is aware of the social, economic and cultural influences that may affect clients as they are seeking therapy. Shareela works with clients with a variety of mental health concerns including, depression, anxiety, bi-polar, grief, narcissism, at risk children and families, perfectionists, PTSD, life transitions and family changes. Topics of exploration are not limited and include career challenges, parenting strategies, stress management techniques and grief and loss surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Shareela believes that through a direct, collaborative, non-judgmental approach, her clients can explore specific barriers that prevent progress, determine the direction for restoration, and the promote self-advocacy to process their concerns in a safe environment. In 2020, Shareela cofounded her private practice; Change Therapeutic Services, Inc., where she maintains a relationship of respect for the therapeutic relationship while supporting clients to explore areas that caused distress while developing goals as they move towards a progressive future. Everyone that knows Shareela will tell you that she is fun, loving, loyal, organized, hardworking and creative.
Deidre Coutsompos, CD, ICCE, CLEC is a compassionate and caring advocate for Black birth. In an effort to address the staggering infant and maternal mortality rates in the African-American community, 12 years into her practice, Deidre’s passion and drive expanded from supporting birthing families to mentoring and training novice doulas and seasoned birth workers, alike. Deidre is a founding member of the Sankofa Birthworkers’ Collective of the Inland Empire, a collective of Black birthworkers, reclaiming their rights to birth through connection, cause and community.
Deidre is currently the lead of Maternal Wellness department and coordinator for Doula Access Program. A program that provides free birth Doula services to families that have public health insurance all over the Inland Empire. In addition, they will be hosting a Black Maternal Health Series: Overdue Conversations: Understanding the past, acknowledging the present, preparing for the future. This will be a time for medical providers to explore systemic racism, while learning about tools they can apply to their practice and care to improve outcomes for Black birthing families.
Lisa R. Roberts, Dr.PH, MSN, RN, FNP-BC, CHES, FAANP, FAAN is a Professor and the Research Director at Loma Linda University School of Nursing, with a secondary appointment as Professor in the Division of Interdisciplinary Studies in the School of Behavioral Health to facilitate collaborative translational research. Her MSN and Family Nurse Practitioner training was obtained at Western University of Health Sciences, and her Dr.PH in health education at the LLU School of Public Health.
Dr. Roberts' background as a clinician and international experience are foundational to her research. While she has conducted projects in several other countries, having been raised in India, she has ongoing research in India pertaining to maternal mental health. Across setting, including in the US, her research is translational, interdisciplinary, and community-based, addressing health disparities and vulnerable populations. Her clinical focus is prevention and primary care. She enjoys teaching and mentoring as this provides the opportunity to influence the next generation of nursing researchers and scholars to care for the vulnerable and reduce health disparities.
Amber Warmsley, MD is a wife of six years to an amazing husband and a mother of two young children. She’s a native Southern Californian transplanted to the D.C. metro area who will always love the beach. She pursued her medical education at University of New York at Buffalo and completed her Ob/Gyn residency at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York, NY and has a total of 12 yeas of experience. Dr. Warmsley is currently the department Chairperson and practicing physician at White Oak Medical Center in Silver Spring, MD.
In addition to international service and working with underserved communities, Dr. Warmsley is passionate about fostering a collaborative care approach to pregnancy related care and creating a safe, positive, and uplifting birthing experience. She believes that all women and families deserve compassion, respect, dignity, and shared decision-making from their birthing team.