Meet Shawnti Refuge

We were lucky to catch up with Shawnti Refuge recently and have shared our conversation below.

Shawnti, we are so deeply grateful to you for opening up about your journey with mental health in the hops that it can help someone who might be going through something similar. Can you talk to us about your mental health journey and how you overcame or persisted despite any issues? For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
I overcame and persisted despite the challenges of mental health issues. I was diagnosed with Severe Depression & Anxiety in 2018. I like to say that this is the year I “died”. I had to be “born again” and get to know the new me by going to therapy. I had held on to the old me for so long that when the new me arrived, I didn’t know who she was and it scared me. Through therapy and guided journaling, I was able to begin facing, acknowledging, and healing from my past. Knowing who I am and what my purpose is has kept me going. Like everyone, I do have my bad days, but through journaling, therapy, meditation, yoga, going to church, and saying affirmations, I always get back to the me I am supposed to be.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
My name is Shawnti Refuge. I’m the CEO of Shawnti Refuge Journals. I was born and raised in Beaumont, Texas. I’m a wife mother of three. I started Shawnti Refuge Journals in 2021, two years after I experienced a Mental BREAKTHROUGH (as opposed to breakdown).

After being put on medication, I decided that wasn’t what I wanted for my life, through therapy, I was able to dig deeper and get to the root of my issues and learn how to heal from them.

One of the coping skills that I learned was guided journaling. Through Guided Journaling, I was able to acknowledge, face, and heal from many issues that I didn’t know I even had!

Through my journey, I felt that I needed to help others like myself, who don’t want medication to numb them and instead want to HEAL!

I teach people how to journal & effectively target their goals into realistic results. I teach people how to manifest. The exciting part of what I do is encourage & support my clients from the beginning to their end goal. After they achieve their goal(s), my clients are always amazed at how courageous they were and didn’t realize it. I show them a side of themselves that they didn’t know existed.

I developed a series of guided journals for your emotional & mental wellness. I am a support group facilitator, journaling instructor, and I host wellness workshops.

I currently have my autobiography, “Quiet As Kept”, to be released in August 2023. In this book, my life’s story is recounted in vivid detail, and I do not shy away from the uncomfortable or the controversial. Through my memoir, I hope to inspire and help others who may be going through similar experiences.

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?
The skills and knowledge that were most impactful in my journey were being honest about my emotions, communicating them effectively, and learning how to stand in my truth no matter what others thought of it. These were not easy, but very necessary. There was even a point where imposter syndrome had kicked in and I wanted to scratch the whole thought of telling my story.

My advice to anyone in their journey is to keep going no matter what. Do it scared. Don’t quit. If your journey keeps pulling you in, then you keep going! It’s okay to take a break. We’re human and we get tired. If you quit, you will not only be doing a disservice to yourself, but to those who are waiting for you to help them!

Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am looking for Mental Health Professionals, Advocates, and those wanting to begin their healing journey to collaborate with. Mental Health is a very important issue, and setting the platforms for safe spaces for us to gather is very important. It’s time to stop the stigma of Mental Health in our communities! If you are interested in collaborating with me, please inquire at info@shawntirefugejournals.com. In the subject line: COLLAB.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
B2Ful Photography Tiffany Green Shawnti Refuge

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