Planted in Zimbabwe, rooted in Africa and grounded in Abya-Yala, Turtle Island, Canada for the past 19 years, Shayla is a mother first before all the academic and professional accolades. When she is not adulting, mothering or coparenting with her partner, she can be often found holding space for healing journeys and bearing witness to the sacred and multistories of youth, adults and families of diverse cultures and identities. She is also an Africentric Cultural Safety Consultant who invests her time providing psychoeducation on racial trauma and cultural responsiveness.

Shayla is an Alberta board approved social work clinical supervisor and CRPO recognized clinical supervisor who coaches and supervises and supports other therapists across Canada. Shayla is interprovincially licensed and has been practicing as a social worker since 2009; she is passionate about anti oppressive practice, UBUNTU, cultural humilty and decolonizing mental health.

In addition to the multiple roles that Shayla wears, she is a sessional social worker instructor with University of Calgary and an equity responsive, certified workplace psychological health and safety consultant and advisor.