Introducing Pick My Brain Sessions!
I have always been a very proud social worker. I pursued my Bachelor of Social Work (BSW) and Master of Social Work (MSW) degrees with the intent of becoming a clinician and outpatient therapist. That goal was achieved in September 2019 after spending the previous five years as an intensive in-home counselor, mental health skill-building specialist, behavioral specialist, clinical director, school social worker, acute hospitalization intake specialist, and adjunct (followed by full-time) social work professor (many of these occurring concurrently).
I was ecstatic! I remember at the end of the interview waiting for the agency owner to say those two special words, “you’re hired!” At the same time, she was waiting nervously, expecting me to turn down the opportunity. Needless to say, the agency was a good fit; unfortunately, the position was not.
Don’t get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the almost 18 months that I served as a part-time therapist! But the work was draining and not my calling, likely because I was also a tenure-track professor and full-time doctoral student. It was too much to maintain all three roles, so I resigned from the therapy position in February 2021.
Spring 2021 was the second time in my then seven-year professional career that I only had one job, and it was the first time I was not practicing social work (instead, I was teaching it). It was a hard pill to swallow. However, since then, I have come to terms with how my career transitioned because I absolutely love what I do.
As I continue to build my business offering workshops, panel discussions, continuing education courses, podcast interviews, and other professional development opportunities to various organizations, I recognize that I am steadily missing opportunities to support people at the individual level, especially those who are not in a position to hire me for a professional development session. Between emails and direct messages (DMs) asking to meet, workshop participants asking about coaching, consulting, and therapeutic opportunities, and questions and feedback posed on TikTok and LinkedIn, I knew I wasn’t meeting needs. As a social worker, that challenged me. I accepted consultations as I was able, but as my speaking schedule filled, I no longer had the time or capacity to meet as much as I wanted to. I knew something needed to change. And I finally know what that is!
Sometimes You Just Need an Experienced Perspective
Have you ever wanted to meet with a seasoned professional or potential mentor to ask questions about their experience or to assess whether you are on the right track, but then immediately talked yourself out of it out of fear of looking foolish or not wanting to interrupt their busy schedule? I know I have.
My dissertation chair is the person who helped me be brave enough to email Robin D’Angelo and Janet E. Helms about their work on white racial identity when I was studying best practices for anti-racist programming. I’m still drafting what I will say to Tabitha Brown when I get the opportunity to meet her. And while I am no comparison to any of these lovely ladies, I don’t ever want someone to feel they should not approach me because they feel I don’t have the time or interest to pour into them.
Whether someone is navigating the emotional demands of clinical work, translating research into meaningful community impact, or figuring out how to grow as a speaker or thought leader, having a sounding board can make all the difference. I wear a lot of hats, including clinician, professor, researcher, mentor, speaker, facilitator, and content creator. I have grown in all of these roles because I had a meaningful network to rely on and someone who could give me guidance in each arena as needed. I want to pass this on as well. Pick My Brain sessions are how I am opening myself up to do so.
What is “Pick My Brain”?
Before I get way too off topic (I will spare you all the “excerpts” I wrote that didn’t make it into this blog), a Pick My Brain session is a 60-minute consultation where you and I meet to discuss topics of your choosing. It is a non-clinical space where you pose questions, and I share guidance, insights, and wisdom. But it’s not stuffy! It is extremely collaborative, and the agenda is set by you!
Think of it as coaching meets consulting meets girl chat, but without the intensity of therapy or the commitment of long-term or expensive coaching. Whether we meet once or a few times, you will have uninterrupted access to me to ask questions about a range of topics with the most popular being rest and restoration, beginning a career in academia, research, navigating identity, exploring achievement and personal passions, recovering from or preventing burnout, experiences with entrepreneurship and content creation, going back to school, becoming a social worker, pursuing a doctoral degree, and healing from or advocating within social and racial justice. I’ll listen to your experiences, share my opinion, perspective, feedback, and advice, and even help you map out strategies moving forward.
Why This Matters
No matter what happens in life, to my core, I believe I will always identify as a social worker and clinician. Social work isn’t just what I do; it’s foundational to who I am and how I approach just about every endeavor and relationship. As a social worker, the primary ethical value that we uphold is service. Offering Pick My Brain sessions is one more way I seek to serve and support others.
I am no gatekeeper. I want to share my knowledge and insight meaningfully and collaborate openly, just like so many people have invested in me. While I wish I could continue doing it for free, because I am “The Rest Dr.” and I’m all about balance and boundaries, I do have to set limits on my availability because my research, social media presence, speaking engagements, and full-time work responsibilities keep me quite active. However, I am no longer willing to use this as an “excuse.” I’ve noted before that there are people who may not have access to my speaking engagements or professional development workshops. Offering Pick My Brain sessions is one more step towards inclusion.
Final Thoughts and Call to Action
Okay, okay, okay. That’s enough talking about me. I’m ready to learn about and support you! If you think I can be of assistance in your life, please schedule your Pick My Brain session here. And remember, if you are in a position to hire me for a professional development event, you may book your free consultation by clicking here.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a “Pick My Brain” session?
A Pick My Brain session with Dr. Shayla Élise Walker is a one-on-one professional consultation designed for individuals who want thoughtful insight on a specific question, challenge, or idea. These sessions provide space to discuss topics such as professional development, research strategy, workshop development, social work practice insights, or navigating complex workplace or inter/intrapersonal dynamics.
Who are these sessions best suited for?
These sessions are especially helpful for:
Black women navigating the Strong Black Woman schema
High-achievers healing from and/or preventing burnout
Social workers and clinicians seeking professional insight
Graduate students and emerging researchers
Professionals developing workshops or speaking platforms
Leaders navigating complex professional dynamics
Anyone looking for a professional consultation with a social work expert and public speaker
Is this therapy or coaching?
No. These sessions are not therapy or clinical supervision. They are informal professional consultation conversations designed to help you think through ideas, challenges, or opportunities with clarity and strategy.
What can we talk about during a session?
We can talk about any topic on your mind! Some examples may include:
Personal growth and prioritizing rest, balance, and boundaries
Navigating workplace challenges in social work or higher education
Developing research ideas or community-focused scholarship
Building workshops, presentations, or speaking engagements
Professional growth and leadership development
Translating expertise into meaningful impact
If you’re unsure whether your topic fits, feel free to reach out. For a full list of specific topic areas, please click here.
How should I prepare for the session?
You are encouraged to come with a clear question or topic you’d like to discuss. The more specific you can be about what you’re navigating, the more productive our conversation will be. However, you are also welcome to come as you are! You do not need to have a polished agenda, but a general area to explore is encouraged. Some people bring one big question, others bring a short list of topics. Both work. You can use your session however it is most meaningful to you!
How do I book a session?
You can view details and book your session directly by clicking here.
👉www.shaylawalker.com/pick-my-brain
Once scheduled, you’ll receive confirmation and details about how we’ll connect.
