Meet Shayne McNichols, LMSW | Mental Health Therapist & Public Speaker

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shayne McNichols, LMSW and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shayne, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
Over time, I have steered away from how I viewed work life balance because when I thought of the term “balance,” it caused me jump into this “perfectionist bag.” Through a perfectionistic lens, there needed to be a perfect amount of this or that and I needed to give a precise percentage of myself/my time to a particular domain. Let me tell you, this caused more stress for me.

Within this space, I found myself riddled with “shoulds,” for example, “Shayne, you know you should only be enjoying this activity for 30 minutes. If you don’t stop now, you’re going to interrupt the flow of the day.” How limiting! I have learned that if I am enjoying a hobby longer than I planned, there’s nothing wrong with that. Matter of fact, enjoying a hobby can increase the dopamine in your brain that impacts the success of the next activity. When I feel better going into a laborious task, I will have better productivity even if it is for a shorter time frame than I planned.

Now when I lay my head down at night and review the day, I don’t see a perfectionistic approach; instead I see a series of decisions that support my work responsibilities and self-care to the best of my ability. When I don’t check all of the boxes,I lather myself in grace and give it another try tomorrow.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’m Shayne McNichols, LMSW – Clinical & Macro, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker/Therapist, Community Collaborator and National Public Speaker. I earned a Masters in Social Work and Bachelor of Science in Health Science from Grand Valley State University. For the past 16 years, I have worked in the foster care, adoption, non-profit, for profit, and higher education industries as a Clinician and Case Manager. Since 2019, I have been the Owner and Lead Therapist at the Blossom Counseling Center for Personal Growth and Development, LLC.

First, you may be thinking, Why the name Blossom Counseling Center for Personal Growth and Development? As you can see there is a lot of growth language embodied in the name (like all over it). First, “Blossom” as a verb means to “produce flowers.” It’s impossible to produce flowers without a seed. Second, although we are unable to produce flowers in our humanness, we do have the ability to bloom just as beautifully from the inside out. Third, in the therapy setting, it is my intention to support you in uprooting negative thinking and behaviors; plant, healthy thought seeds; water the seeds through consistent positive engagement and treatment, which allows you to “Flourish From the Inside Out.” I cannot say it enough, “I want to see you Grow into your BEST self.”

For over a decade, I have made it my focus to research the topic of trauma and counsel those who have had traumatic experiences. It’s been a joy to assist children as young as four years old to adults through the treatment model of evidence-based, Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy.

Additionally, I am an experienced professional equipped to help children, adolescents, and adults to address concerns related to depression, anxiety, stress, life transitions, grief/loss, and self-esteem. Although talk therapy is the primary form of connecting in sessions, I have experience using art, music, mindfulness meditation, and play therapy to process thoughts, feelings, physical sensations, and behaviors. Although I have been in the field for an extended period of time, I am always in the seat of the learner increasing competence in treatment to support you well.

My approach is energetic, down to earth, non-judgmental, culturally competent, and with your best interest in mind. I normalize struggle often because we all do. I pride myself in creating a safe space for clients. One of my mottos is, “It is great that you are learning in the four-wall space of my office and that you come to see me weekly; however, you spend way more hours in your real life. My desire is for you to learn tools to use to succeed in your everyday life.”

Let’s get those wins : From seed planting to blossoming – let’s work together as healing is always in season!

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I am a foodie through and through with eclectic taste in cuisine. Whenever I have a visitor, they know that I will introduce them to some amazing local food in the city of Grand Rapids. First, I ask them what they have a taste for and we will go to the best local restaurant that satisfies that taste. If they are indecisive or if they don’t have any idea what they want to eat I suggest: Chez Olga (Caribbean food and smoothie), Vitale’s Pizza (yummy meatballs and pizza), Jaku Sushi and Grill (shout out to the Angel Roll) or Stella’s Lounge (the BEST burger and fries in town). I would take my loved one downtown to take in the sights and shop, go to the Downtown Market, catch a movie at the Celebration Cinema at Studio Park, or catch a show at the Devos Place, Van Andel Arena or Midtown. After this, we can grab desert and take a ride to one of the beautiful Lake Michigan cities, i.e. Saugatuck, Grand Haven or Holland (best idea in the Summer or Fall, but also beautiful in the winter).

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate my shout out to:

God, who is the creator of all things, the original visionary, who out of his unconditional love, grace, mercy and favor has ordered my steps. You have granted me the opportunity to love and care for your people. I am forever grateful to be trusted by you.

My parents, Marlin and Joyce McNichols, who have supported me my whole life. I appreciate you for your unwavering love, kindness, and support. You both have role modeled what it means to be a kind human, You both have showed what it means to work hard and to follow my dreams. You both have affirmed me with God’s word my whole life – Thank you!

My mentor, Clyde Poag, LCSW, who has poured into me consistently for the past 15 years. Thank you for believing in me and challenging me as you have. Your wisdom nuggets have been beyond formative in the work I do. I appreciate you!

Last, but not least, shout out to my life partner and close friends who shower me with consistent love and support. Thank you for speaking life into me, being my voice of reason when anxiety would challenge me, giving me space to be the real me, calling me out when I needed to be, and speaking my name in rooms full of opportunities.

Website: www.blossomcounselingcenter.com

Instagram: http://instagram.com/blossomcounselingcenter/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayne-mcnichols-lmsw-clinical-and-macro-56aa19a0/

Facebook: http://facebook.com/blossomcounselingcenter/

Image Credits
Michael Kelly –www.michaeljermaine.com http://instagram.com/themichael_j/ Booking: [email protected]