07/20/2025
Hi, I’m Shianne 👋
I was born in Sulphur, Louisiana, at West Calcasieu Cameron Hospital. My roots are in another small town right down the street (Westlake, Louisiana), where I grew up in a somewhat split household. My parents divorced when I was a baby, and my childhood was a mix of weekends with my dad (a truck driver and crane operator who was often away working) and weekdays with my mom (who mostly stayed home to raise us, but also worked in many daycare settings as a teacher) and stepdad (who worked as a Program Director at FOX29 for the majority of my childhood). I am the oldest of four girls, with one biological sister and two stepsisters, so life was rarely quiet.
At 14 years old, my life changed in ways I couldn’t have imagined when I was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkin’s T-Cell Lymphoma. For 2.5 years, I underwent chemotherapy at what is now known as Manning Children’s Hospital in New Orleans. During those years, my mom and I spent so much time away from home that my youngest sister (born just two months before Hurricane Rita and Hurricane Katrina devastated our communities here in Louisiana) essentially grew up without a mom present for long stretches. It was hard on all of us. Personally, I struggled deeply with my mental health and didn’t receive counseling at the time. That experience planted a seed in me. Years later, it became the reason I chose to become a therapist. I wanted to be the support I wish I had back then.
Throughout my K-12 years, I attended Westwood Elementary School, S. P. Arnett Middle School, and graduated from Westlake High School (go Rams, I guess, LOL). At 19 years old, I left my parents’ home and crossed the I-10 bridge to Lake Charles, Louisiana, moving into my own apartment while working as a Psychiatric Technician at Lake Charles Memorial Hospital/Archer Institute. I remember all those late nights studying at work on night shifts, Thursday through Sunday, 7PM-7AM like clockwork. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology from McNeese State University in 2019 and, eventually, my Master of Education in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Lamar University in 2022. I definitely credit those night shifts for my success throughout my years in higher education.
But who I am is more than my career. I was a stubborn, independent kid (my parents will tell you I had to learn every lesson the hard way). I found comfort in books — vampire sagas, fantasy romances, and the occasional Nicholas Sparks novel that I would borrow from my mimi — whenever home felt too heavy. That escape helped me get through the hardest parts of my life.
Now, I’m a wife, mom, and someone who finds peace in the small, grounding routines such as decorating my home and office to make them feel warm and safe; praying several times a day; and turning to my coping skills like a shower, deep breathing, skincare routine, and my PRN anxiety medication(s) when I need them.
Most of all, when I’m not working, I’m focused on what matters most to me — my little family. My husband and I married on his birthday, July 24, 2022, and we have a beautiful daughter who is now a year and a half old. She keeps us grounded and reminds me daily why I value family, balance, and resilience so much. My faith is central to my life. I am Muslim, and while I don’t wear hijab daily, my values and daily actions are deeply rooted in Islam and my Iman. Living in the South, I know this might surprise people or even challenge stereotypes, but I believe being authentic about who I am is important, even if it’s not what people expect. My husband is Bengali, and being part of his family and culture has added so much richness to my life. We spend a lot of time with his parents and extended family, sharing meals and conversations that weave between English, Bangla, and Arabic. I’ve learned to catch on to context clues, and every now and then, I surprise them by replying back in their languages.
Life has thrown me some heavy challenges, but it’s also shaped me into someone who can appreciate the beauty of resilience, connection, and faith. Who I am today is a mix of all of it — my roots, my culture, my family, my struggles, and my growth.
If you’ve made it this far, thank you for letting me share a little piece of my story. 💛
