About | Connection Counseling & Consultation | Professional Counseling Services in the Oklahoma City area and state of Oklahoma

Bienvenidos Amigos and Mabrika Guatiano, "Welcome friends"

I am a public speaker, advocate, and consultant for mental health, suicide prevention, and domestic violence.

With more than 7 years’ experience in suicidology, I served as the Suicide Prevention and 988 Program Coordinator at Southern Plains Tribal Health Board. Before Southern Plains, I administered a suicide prevention grant for an Oklahoma Tribe.

I preside as the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Oklahoma Chapter, Board President. I also provide training in Adult Mental Health First Aid, It’s Real for Teens, and Talk Saves Lives for both standard and Hispanic/Latinx programs.

My work in Tribal suicide prevention has been nationally acknowledged at a U.S. Congressional briefing on comprehensive suicide prevention. Additionally, the Centers for Disease Control utilizes my work as a culturally informed model for Indigenous suicide prevention.

Dedicated to serving diverse and marginalized communities, I am passionate about giving voice to those who often feel unheard. I have been an adjunct professor at Southern Nazarene University for nine years, teaching undergraduate courses and more recently, the Crisis Intervention course for the graduate program. I believe in empowerment through creative and decolonized education that challenges traditional ways of learning.

What's my why?

When I first set foot in college, my goal was to pursue a business major. Little did I know that everything would shift when I became a mentor to a 6-year-old girl. Our bond grew strong as she started attending my softball practices and games. As the school year drew to a close, my heart sank when I couldn't find her to bid goodbye. It was then I saw her in the rearview mirror, chasing the car as it pulled away. In that fleeting moment on the gravel road, we embraced with tears in our eyes, and I knew my future had transformed.

The profound impact of this connection led me to realize the power of being a compassionate ear for others. If I could influence one person so profoundly, what could I achieve as a counselor, offering a safe haven for sharing life's experiences? Her bravery in embracing a young college student, and forever altering my path, fills me with enduring gratitude.

Through this extraordinary journey to counseling, I've discovered a tapestry woven from diverse passions and responsibilities.

I feel incredibly fortunate that our paths have crossed here. I aspire to walk with you on your journey to healing, offering support and understanding every step of the way.

Endorsements

"Shiela Williams is a gifted mental health professional. She is a strategic program administrator, builds enduring partnerships in the community, nurtures her team, and her programmatic approach is informed by her years of clinical experience and expertise. She is a passionate champion of suicide prevention and mental health and wellness in youth, and working with her is a joy."

"Ambitious, passionate, and motivated, Shiela Williams has the education and experience to provide excellent therapy services. As an adjunct professor, she teaches grad students what usually isn’t taught in school – how to talk about suicide, the realities of dealing with your own stuff while working with clients, how to not just give lip service to being culturally competent. A proud person of color from Puerto Rican descent, Shiela has advocated for and served other cultures whose voices and experiences may be diminished by others. It’s not Shiela’s diploma or resume, however, that makes her an effective and compassionate therapist. It’s her heart. And dedication. And commitment. And love and appreciation for anyone who has suffered. And if nothing else, Shiela’s laugh will make your day brighter."

"When it comes to suicide prevention, mental health or wellness in general, I have never met a more passionate and dedicated person in my life. Her personal experience, cultural competence, education and work experience make her a force to be reckoned with as a mental health professional. Additionally, she is one of the most powerful speakers I have ever seen in action. She is beloved and trusted in the communities she serves. You just feel good being in her presence."