Life, Values & Legacy: Our Chat with Geries Shaheen of Neighborhood

Geries Shaheen shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Geries, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
The past few years Iv been publishing counseling workbooks that I use in my practice.
I don’t market these, they are simply a library of resources I have built as a way to both archive and access material, worksheets, best practices that I have collected over the years.
I have one on parenting, anger, trauma, court mandated reunification, and the like.
I’m proud of this collection.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m an Israeli born first generation American Licensed Professional Counselor and Nationally Certified Counselor operating in and around St. Louis Missouri. I own a mental health counseling practice serving various populations in person and virtually.
My private practice is called Pioneer Counseling, which has a non profit arm called Client X Initiative.
I hold an MA in Professional Counseling from Lindenwood University, BA in Intercultural Studies from Lincoln Christian University

I am an author of the book “The People’s Children: Mending Values in Community”
And more recently “Modern Sirach: A reimagining of Ancient Wisdom”, as well as a series of children’s mental health books revolving around a character named Mishap! You can follow my podcast “The Counseling Convos Podcast”

I am DBT certified, EMDR trained, and operate from a trauma informed lens.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
They say moments shape how we see the world. I beg to differ. The world has a large hand in how we perceive our moments.
The collective, society, humanity, it gives us nudges and insights when we are faced with decision making. In a way it shapes the fabric of our morality and sense of self.
This can be referred to as a persuasive energy, or a force if you will.
How the world responded to terror, to financial crises, to global pandemics, to assassinations. These have placed a force on how I perceive the world, but also how a person thinks of their own self.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
I recall in college coming to a strange realization that the age old saying “the sky is the limit” actually checks out.

I tested that theory in small ways, “can I really pass this exam?”, “Could I write for the paper?”, “Could I pay off my college?”, etc

I kept pushing it further into larger goals “Could I really attain an internship at this highly sought after organization.”, goals I usually wouldn’t allow myself to chase after.
To my surprise, I was able to accomplish them!

I began to then realize the responsibility and fear that comes with this notion. If I truly sought after a goal, there is a percentage of attainment. Regardless of how virtuous or vicious it would be.

This realization helped determine that it’s not simply about having a goal, but a virtuous one.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Wisdom.
Wisdom is supreme! It would be beneficial for us to seek wisdom. No matter the cost, we are to gain understanding.
This is a virtue that grants values! Talk about a goose that lays golden eggs. Wisdom kicks em out on the daily.
Wisdom historically has been described as Lady Wisdom, and compared to Lady Folly.
They are contrasting figures, personifying two different paths in life: one leading to life and blessing, the other to death and destruction.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
Peace is the embodiment of congruency. Living in peace means there is balance, and not a Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde lifestyle.

When our real self and idealized self are harmonious, that’s where peace exists.

When my virtues values and beliefs line up with my thoughts, feelings and behaviors, that’s when I feel most at peace.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://pioneercounseling.org

Image Credits
Geries Shaheen