We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful CHERLETTE MCCULLOUGH. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with CHERLETTE below.
Hi CHERLETTE, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?
I found my purpose through vulnerability. It wasn’t a straight path—it was born out of moments when I felt exposed, uncertain, and even broken. As a therapist and entrepreneur, I’ve learned that real transformation begins when we stop pretending to be okay and start being honest with ourselves first. My purpose revealed itself when I leaned into my own healing, acknowledged my pain, and gave myself permission to grow from it. That vulnerability didn’t make me weak it made me relatable, resilient, and deeply committed to helping others do the same. Purpose for me is not just what I do, it’s who I become when I choose truth over perfection.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
At Center Peace Couples & Family Therapy, our mission is simple—healing the whole person and the entire family system. I’m the founder and lead therapist, and I work alongside Teri Bailey, a Registered Mental Health Intern who brings a compassionate and skilled approach to working with children as young as six years old. Together, we provide therapy that considers the full emotional and relational impact of life transitions like divorce, breakups, trauma, and personal development.
What sets us apart is our systemic approach—we don’t just treat the symptoms, we look at the root dynamics affecting the individual, couple, or family unit. Whether it’s co-parenting challenges, generational trauma, or relationship roadblocks, our goal is to restore clarity, connection, and confidence.
In addition to therapy, I wear many hats:
I provide marriage counseling and even officiate weddings, which allows me to support couples at every stage of their journey.
I’m a keynote speaker for leadership summits and wellness events.
I regularly appear on local news outlets as a mental health expert and have been featured in multiple episodes of TV One’s #1 shows Fatal Attraction and For My Man.
My passion lies in breaking the stigma around mental health—one honest conversation at a time. I also host a monthly women’s healing support group open to the public, and this October, I’m launching my first-ever all-women’s retreat focused on rest, restoration, and sisterhood.
Whether I’m in the therapy room, on a stage, or in front of a camera, my goal remains the same: helping people heal, grow, and thrive with purpose.
If you’re planning a conference or event, I’d love to be considered as your next speaker.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Looking back, the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been emotional intelligence, resilience, and the ability to communicate with purpose.
1. Emotional Intelligence – Understanding my own emotions and the emotions of others has helped me lead with empathy, especially in high-stakes conversations, whether in therapy rooms, boardrooms, or on media platforms. It’s a skill that turns connection into transformation.
2. Resilience – Life will test your mission. I’ve learned that setbacks don’t disqualify you—they refine you. Resilience is about bouncing forward, not just bouncing back. It’s about learning, adjusting, and showing up even when it’s uncomfortable.
3. Purposeful Communication – Whether I’m speaking on national TV or sitting with a client in crisis, clarity and intention in communication create trust and momentum. Your voice can be your most powerful tool when it’s aligned with your values.
Advice for those just starting out?
Lead with authenticity, stay curious, and do the inner work. Learn to regulate your emotions, ask for feedback often, and stay committed to growth, even when it’s inconvenient. The goal isn’t perfection, it’s alignment. Your purpose will stretch you, but it will also sustain you.
To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?
The most impactful thing my mother did for me was model strength with softness and faith with action. She raised me on her own, and in doing so, she showed me how to trust God wholeheartedly, set bold goals, and go after them with determination and grit.
She taught me that dreaming big wasn’t just allowed—it was expected. That rest was a form of resistance, and vacations were not a luxury, but a necessity. She instilled in me the value of loving deeply, giving generously, and showing up for family.
But perhaps most importantly, she taught me how to love myself—and that kind of love has become the foundation of everything I now teach, build, and lead.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.orlandorelationshiptherapist.com
- Instagram: Cherlette_Mccullough
- Facebook: Cherlette McCullough
- Linkedin: Cherlette McCullough
- Youtube: Conversations with Cherlette
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
