Shahem Mclaurin, LCSW

Shahem McLaurin, LCSW, is a Black, queer therapist, public educator, and the Founder and Clinical Director of Freedom Collective Therapy based in Brooklyn, New York. With seven years of experience as a therapist, Shahem’s work sits at the intersection of mental health, identity, culture, and social justice, both inside and beyond the therapy room.

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Shahem earned their Master’s in Social Work from New York University’s Silver School of Social Work and holds two Bachelor’s degrees in Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies from Towson University. Their clinical and educational work is grounded in an understanding that mental health does not exist in isolation from the environments and systems people navigate. By centering positionality within a capitalistic, White supremacist, and patriarchal society, Shahem supports marginalized and patriarchy-impacted people in understanding and navigating the stress, trauma, relationships, and lived experiences shaped by these systems.

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Shahem approaches healing through a multifaceted, identity-focused lens that recognizes the individual while remaining deeply attentive to family, community, culture, and broader social context. Their clinical approach incorporates modalities including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Functional Family Therapy (FFT), and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), while emphasizing strengths, agency, and the role of community in the healing process.

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Beyond clinical practice, Shahem is a public educator who translates complex conversations about mental health, relationships, trauma, identity, and systemic issues into accessible education for broader audiences. Through digital platforms, trainings, workshops, speaking engagements, and media, their work extends mental health education beyond traditional clinical spaces and encourages people to think more critically and compassionately about themselves, one another, and the conditions that shape well-being.

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As Founder and Clinical Director of Freedom Collective Therapy, Shahem leads the practice’s clinical vision and its commitment to culturally affirming, community-centered care. Their work is guided by a larger mission to expand how and where conversations about mental health happen while helping build more accessible pathways to meaningful support.

Shahem is currently in network with several insurance plans and also works with out-of-network benefits. To learn more about current availability or beginning therapy with Shahem, please submit an inquiry or schedule a consultation.