Today we’d like to introduce you to Tracy Long.
Hi Tracy, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
There’s a story behind everything I’ve built, every decision I’ve made, and every step I’ve taken to get here. It’s a complicated story—one of privilege but also trauma, of silence but eventually healing, of breaking generational cycles while honoring where I come from.
My parents immigrated from Jamaica before I was born. Like many immigrant families, their journey wasn’t easy, but they worked hard and created a comfortable life for my siblings and me. They instilled invaluable lessons about grit, perseverance, and striving for excellence—but there was one lesson that came with a shadow: we didn’t talk about our feelings. Strength meant resilience and often silence. When life hit harder, you keep pushing. That’s just what you do.
Growing up, I had privileges—a comfortable home, opportunities, safety—but alongside that privilege, I also encountered trauma, both directly and indirectly. In the community I came from, certain struggles were normalized. Abuse, neglect, and dysfunction were rarely labeled as such; they were just “life.” And above all, you didn’t talk about it—you kept quiet, stayed strong, and waited for the storm to pass.
In 2011, that storm became personal when my father, the first man I ever loved, was diagnosed with stage IV multiple myeloma. If you saw him, you saw me—music, conversations, all of it.
He died in 2012, two days after my birthday. I still tell myself he held on just long enough to say happy birthday to me one last time. That loss shattered me. I spiraled—turning to alcohol, isolating myself, detaching from every part of life that still demanded something of me, even motherhood. I love my sons deeply, but back then, I could barely function as a mother. Those around me said, “You’re strong, you’ll be fine,” but I wasn’t strong, and I wasn’t coping. I was drowning.
Counseling didn’t cross my mind—it wasn’t something we talked about in our family or community. Therapy felt like something “other people” did. Eventually, as work performance faltered, I reached out through my employer. But my first encounter in therapy wasn’t healing—it broke me further. My first therapist was an older white man. It made me feel worse—unseen, misunderstood. I stopped going.
Months later, someone recommended a Black therapist. That referral changed my life. For the first time, I experienced what it meant to feel seen—to have someone understand who I was without needing endless explanations. Someone who got the cultural and systemic wounds I carried, someone who understood what being Black in America felt like. For so many years, I’d carried the silent burdens of childhood adversity, grief, and trauma that are so prevalent but so rarely addressed openly in Black communities. In therapy, those wounds finally had space to breathe—and to heal. This wasn’t just counseling; it was the start of reclaiming my life.
Fast forward to 2020. The pandemic shifted everything for me. I had a secure job I was good at, but I wasn’t happy there. During those months of reflection, I realized what I wanted: to make a deeper impact in communities that felt neglected, misunderstood, or excluded in conversations around mental health. Opening a private practice wasn’t just a career move—it was my way of honoring the personal transformation I’d experienced. The name Shades of Resilience meant something specific to me: for Black and brown communities, trauma doesn’t look like it does for everyone else—and neither does healing.
In 2022, I made the hardest decision of my professional life. After 15 years with my employer, I resigned to fully step into this purpose. I was terrified, but more than that, I was determined. I thought about my father’s strength, my sons’ futures, and the generations coming after them who deserve better spaces than the ones I grew up in. Representation and cultural understanding had shifted the course of my life; I knew it could do the same for others.
This became not just a practice, but a movement. Through Shades of Resilience Counseling, I’ve created a platform that intentionally centers Black men—men who, like my father, my sons, and so many others, have been struggling in silence for generations. Our trauma looks different: it’s shaped by systemic oppression and societal expectations; by cultural norms that dismiss emotional vulnerability. And because it’s different, our healing needs to be, too. Therapy for Black men isn’t just about processing feelings; it’s about reframing what strength looks like, redefining relationships, and reclaiming control of narratives that have felt lost for so long.
My father’s death broke me. I didn’t think I’d recover from it. But loss has a way of teaching us what we need most—connection, clarity, and purpose. Today, I’m answering the call to hold space for vulnerable truths and advocate for healing paths that reflect the unique stories of the BIPOC community. This isn’t just about me; it’s about breaking cycles, healing wounds, and creating generational change. Because while the storm may rage, healing reminds us that we don’t have to survive it alone—and together, we can rebuild from its wreckage, stronger than before.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has been far from smooth. I’m a therapist. I knew nothing about running a business. I didn’t have a plan; no real business or financial plan. I had no idea how challenging and expensive marketing would be. I exhausted a lot of time and money trying to figure things out. I read books, watched videos, joined private FB groups, but it was still extremly hard for me to find my footing. During the process, I lost my mother, my house, my vehicle, and my relationship. But I was determined to make this work; this is my purpose. My sister and my sons have been extremly supportive. Besides, I’ve done hard things before, so I knew I could do it again. I absolutely love what I do, and I continue to go to therapy so I can show up for my clients the way they need me to. My practice continues to grow, and I’ve added additional streams of income, such as online courses, e-books, and coaching services.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about Shades of Resilience Counseling?
We help high-achieving Black men silence the noise and reclaim the inner peace they’ve been chasing. In a world that demands so much from them, we create a refuge where purpose, power, and healing align. Through transformational therapy and coaching services, we guide them back to their authenticity — the version of themselves that leads, inspires, and builds a future of stronger families, healthier communities, and limitless potential.
Brand Purpose Definition
Why we exist: To break generational cycles of trauma and emotional silence that have historically affected Black men, creating pathways to healing that honor their lived experiences and cultural identity.
Our commitment: We are committed to high-achieving Black men who deserve to be seen, heard, and supported without judgment—men who are ready to reclaim their stories and build lasting emotional resilience.
What we deliver: Culturally competent, goal-oriented therapy that combines traditional therapeutic approaches with mindfulness and deep cultural understanding, delivered through authentic conversations in a safe, relatable environment.
How we deliver: I am a licensed professional counselor and mindfulness meditation coach. National Certified Counselor (NCC) and Board Certified Telemental Health Professional. I’m also trained in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). Through personalized therapy sessions, I bring lived experience and professional expertise together, creating a “sit, talk, and vibe” atmosphere where clients can show up as their true selves while developing practical tools to manage stress, heal trauma, and strengthen relationships.
Our promise in action: We transform therapy from a clinical experience into a genuine conversation—building trust, transparency, and honesty to help Black men thrive at every level of their lives while preserving their mental and emotional well-being.
Brand Mission Statement:
At Shades of Resilience Counseling, we exist to break the silence and stigma around Black men’s mental health by creating a judgment-free space where healing happens through authentic connection.
Our Mission Answers:
What is your brand’s reason for existence?
To address the critical gap in culturally competent mental health care for Black men, inspired by personal experience and a deep understanding that representation in therapy can be life-changing.
What value do you provide to your customers?
We help high-achieving Black men navigate stress, heal from trauma, and build emotional resilience through therapy that combines cultural competence, mindfulness, and goal-oriented approaches—empowering them to take control of their story and thrive without compromising their well-being.
What sets your brand apart from competitors?
We offer lived experience and authentic understanding—creating a space where Black men don’t have to justify their feelings or code-switch. Our approach is conversational, relatable, and real: “We sit, we talk, we vibe.” We show up as our true selves and invite clients to do the same.
What is your brand’s unique selling proposition?
We’re the only practice that combines deep cultural competence with personal lived experience to help Black men recognize adverse childhood experiences as trauma, understand generational patterns, and transform their lives—because therapy here isn’t judgment, it’s a conversation that changes everything.
Core Promise: Transforming Black men’s lives by providing the culturally competent, authentic therapeutic experience that changes everything—just like it did for me.
Brand Vision Statement for Shades of Resilience Counseling:
To create a world where Black men thrive emotionally, mentally, and relationally across generations — breaking cycles of unhealed trauma and building legacies of resilience, authentic connection, and holistic wellness.
The Future We Want to Create:
A future where Black men have unrestricted access to culturally competent mental health support, where seeking therapy is normalized and celebrated, and where emotional wellness is viewed as strength, not weakness.
Our Impact on the World:
We’re disrupting generational trauma patterns within Black families and communities by empowering Black men to heal, grow, and model emotional intelligence for future generations — creating ripple effects that strengthen families, relationships, and communities.
Our Ultimate Goal:
To be the catalyst that transforms how Black men experience mental health care — moving from stigma and silence to openness and empowerment — while establishing a new standard for culturally responsive therapy that honors their lived experiences.
Our Guiding Vision:
Every decision we make serves our commitment to creating authentic, judgment-free spaces where Black men can be seen, heard, and supported in their journey from surviving to thriving — ensuring no one has to navigate their healing alone or compromise their identity to receive quality care.
The Unique Narrative and Message: “We Sit, We Talk, We Vibe”
Shades of Resilience operates on a revolutionary premise: therapy isn’t judgment—it’s conversation. The brand’s narrative centers on authentic connection over clinical distance, cultural competence over generic approaches, and community over isolation.
The Core Message: Black men deserve spaces where they don’t have to justify their feelings, explain their experiences, or code-switch to access healing. At Shades of Resilience, “we show up as our true selves, always,” creating an environment where vulnerability is strength and seeking help is wisdom.
The brand’s unique positioning lies in its deep understanding of generational trauma and its specific impact on Black men’s lives—from childhood adversity to adult challenges in relationships, career stress, and emotional well-being. Tracy bridges therapy, mindfulness, and cultural competence to create what clients describe as “transformative” experiences.
The Promise: This isn’t just about managing symptoms; it’s about taking control of your story, breaking generational cycles, and building the emotional resilience needed to thrive—not just survive. The practice empowers Black men to pursue the lives they deserve without compromising their mental or emotional well-being.
The Community: Shades of Resilience positions itself as more than a counseling service—it’s a community committed to shattering stigma and creating lasting change. The brand recognizes that healing one person ripples through families, relationships, and future generations.
The narrative is deeply rooted in love and responsibility—inspired by Tracy’s dedication to her father, adult sons, and grandchildren, extending that same care to every client who walks through the door. It’s therapy that’s “safe, and frankly, it’s dope”—meeting Black men exactly where they are, with the respect, understanding, and cultural fluency they deserve.
What does success mean to you?
Success, for me, isn’t just about achievement—it’s about legacy. It’s about knowing that the work I do today doesn’t just stop with me; it stretches beyond my hands, beyond my lifetime, to shape lives and transform communities for generations to come. Success means creating something that makes people’s lives better—not only in the here and now, but for their children, their families, and the futures they’ll inherit.
It doesn’t mean perfection, and it doesn’t mean burning out or sacrificing myself to get there. True success is also about balance. It’s knowing that I can provide for myself and my family, not just financially but emotionally. It’s about the freedom to enjoy life alongside them, knowing that I’ve created stability and security with my work, not just professionally, but personally.
Success is impact and nourishment—a ripple effect that starts here, with me, and grows outward to lift others while supporting the life I want to live. That’s what it means to me: breaking barriers, healing wounds, and leaving behind something that truly matters, all while living fully and unapologetically.
Pricing:
- Standard session: $200 (60 minutes)
- 3‑Session Start‑Up Package (new clients only): 3 × 60‑minute sessions at $180 each — $510
- 4‑Session Package: 4 × 60‑minute sessions at $185 each — $740
- Group Support: $65 per 90-minute session
Contact Info:
- Website: https://shadesofresiliencecounseling.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shadesofresiliencecounseling/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tracyalong.shadesofresiliencecounselingpllc/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shadesofresiliencecounseling/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@MindfulAFTherapist
- Other: https://linktr.ee/shadesofresiliencecounseling
