{"id":2,"date":"2019-01-29T18:34:25","date_gmt":"2019-01-29T18:34:25","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/heartlycenter.com\/\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2025-05-29T14:07:09","modified_gmt":"2025-05-29T14:07:09","slug":"get-to-know-us","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/heartlycenter.com\/index.php\/get-to-know-us\/","title":{"rendered":"Get to Know Dr. Valerie Ren\u00e9 Sheppard"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Meet Dr. Valerie Ren\u00e9 Sheppard…in Her Own Words<\/strong>
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I am Dr. Valerie Ren\u00e9 Sheppard<\/strong>, spiritual alchemist, self-mastery expert and happiness junkie!  I\u2019d like to help you explore your heart\u2019s desires, unleash your full power, and create an authentic you to live a fulfilling and happy life.  I have a diverse coaching background spanning more than 20 years, including working with adolescent girls, homeless women, college students, and adult professionals.  I earned my PhD in Consciousness and Human Potential in 2021, and wrote my dissertation based on a four-year pilot study of a college-level curriculum I created from my spiritual self-mastery teachings. I am a certified Master Trainer and my transformational work integrates modalities such as HeartMath\u00ae, Sacred Contracts coaching, Compassionate Communication, Laughter Yoga, Improv Comedy, Practical Spirituality, and the Order of the Blue Rose.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Spiritual Counseling fulfills a calling from within to serve others in their efforts to transform themselves and their lives.  In the end, as we each grow and develop in consciousness, we heal the planet, and that is a mission worth my time and energy!  My calling toward service developed in the background of my awareness as I busily focused on my 25+ year marketing career.  First, I became unsettled with what I was achieving and the legacy I was creating.  I wasn\u2019t happy with how I was relating interpersonally, and my accomplishments, material possessions, and financial status no longer fulfilled me.  I was not pleased with the woman I was being, and I was no longer happy with the things I was doing.  But I didn\u2019t know why.  I often thought the reasons were outside of me and found myself blaming and shaming others for the things in my life I didn\u2019t like or want.  I was sad, resentful, tired, and disillusioned.<\/p>\n\n\n

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I found I wasn\u2019t the only one.  The more I talked to others about my own situation, the more I found similarities in the experiences, and the questioning.  Many lamented decisions made long ago that had them seemingly trapped.  Others feared failure should they attempt something new, opting instead for the familiar\/routine.  Still others wished they had a clearer sense of what they truly desired and how to get it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I started spiritual exploration, reading books, watching films, and attending personal enrichment courses.\u00a0 I became aware of my habitual thinking, evaluated past choices and motivations, and explored my heart\u2019s desires.\u00a0 I also delved into what it was about me that was holding me back.\u00a0 I took personal inventory, worked with master teachers and listened deeply to what people told me about myself.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As I committed to spiritual practices to free myself and create a post-radical sabbatical life that would be more fulfilling and vibrant, I felt a deep calling to give back.  As one of my teachers calls it \u201creturning to the world with gift-bestowing hands.\u201d So I\u2019ve created a path to turn experiences from my own journey into a means to help others explore, awaken and discover Truth.  I created a personal mission statement: <\/p>\n\n\n

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The realizations were amazing. I found hidden fears, false beliefs, and victim mentality that had been building up through the twists and turns of my life.  I had learned to be in the world a certain way in order to achieve, and that way was serving me in one way, but really hindering me in another.  I was hiding behind fears of failure and abandonment, mired in my intellect\/analytical mind, and disconnected from my heart.<\/p>\n\n\n

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My purpose now is to help others be free from limitations, reconnect to the Essence they already are, and step into their full power to create the lives the deeply want to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some Things I Do Very Well…According to My Colleagues, Clients and Students <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

I will help you tap into a stronger sense of Self and realize a heightened sense of direction to overcome obstacles, strengthen relationships, define your life purpose, and embrace the Truth of who you are.  As part of my exploration of Self, I asked several friends and colleagues what they believe I do well.   Here are the things they<\/em> shared that reflect how I would work with you within my personal leadership practice:<\/p>\n\n\n\n