Dr. Shirlyn M. Garrett received her Doctor of Education Degree in Counseling Psychology, with a concentration in Counselor Education and Supervision, in August of 2012, where she graduated from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology.  Dr. Garrett received in Master of Arts in Counseling in 1996, from Sam Houston State University, where she also received her Bachelor of Science in Law Enforcement/Criminal Justice in 1994. 

Dr. Garrett is employed at Chicago State University, as an Assistant Professor in Graduate Counseling Programs, where she is currently the Director of the Program. She also has been a consultant or served in various capacities in Child Welfare for the past 21 years. 

Dr. Garrettis a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (IL) and as an LPC (TX) with extensive supervision training related to different supervision models, approaches, and her own supervised supervision. She has practiced and conducted individual, triadic and group supervision for over 25 years. 

Dr. Garrett is a long-standing member of the American Counseling Association and Association for Counselor Education and Supervision, and the Illinois Counseling Association. She also serves as the Secretary for the Illinois Association for Multicultural Counseling.  She also is a mentor for the NBCC/APA joint program for Illinois Interdisciplinary Minority and Fellowship Program.  She is also currently a member of the National Council of Negro Women and Charms. 

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over 20 years of experience towards making a difference in the lives of others by providing realistic, strength based and trauma-informed strategies towards achieving overall wellness.  I specialize in working with the adolescent and adult populations, as well as families.  My goal is to change the negative perceptions of mental health and therapy.

I am sometimes overwhelmed, stress impacts my health, I procrastinate, there are times I just want to be alone, but I am also smart, non-judgmental, non-traditional, a great listener, sincere and I love what I do. This is my mental health.

Al Johnson is currently the Director of Business Development for Life KNEW New Solutions. New Life KNEW Solutions provides Mental Health Services for children, adults and families within the
home, at school, and community to help change lives one person at a time. NLKS has partnerships with Chicago Public Schools, Chicago Police Department, Chicago Park District, Department of Juvenile Justice for Cook County and numerous community organizations to provide mentoring and mental health services. Al has coached Little League
Baseball, youth football and basketball on the Westside of Chicago for 14 years. I am currently the Varsity Baseball Coach at Westinghouse H.S located in the Garfield community on the Westside of Chicago. Al is a United States Navy Veteran(Gulf War).