About sharlene

Sharlene H. McClendon is a behavioral health professional, advocate, speaker, and consultant committed to promoting mental wellness, resilience, and whole-person well-being. As a former Advisory Council member with the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) and former coalition partner with GUIDE Inc. and CHRIS 180, she has worked to expand access to resources, strengthen support systems, and promote healthier, more resilient communities.

Sharlene has a particular focus on burnout and compassion fatigue, supporting individuals and organizations in understanding the emotional and psychological impact of continually caring for, serving, and supporting others. Her work focuses on helping professionals, caregivers, and organizations recognize the signs of burnout, build resilience, establish healthier boundaries, and create environments that support psychological safety and well-being.

She has served as a speaker at DBHDD conferences and professional events, presenting on topics including burnout, compassion fatigue, co-occurring disorders, trauma, suicide prevention, and mental wellness, particularly in educational and campus settings.

Sharlene’s advocacy also extends to public health and community education. Through collaboration with the DeKalb and Gwinnett County Boards of Health, she has led educational initiatives addressing diabetes and depression, postpartum care, and whole-person wellness.

Through counseling, consultation, education, and advocacy, Sharlene continues to help individuals and organizations recognize what they are carrying, build resilience, and create healthier pathways forward. Her goal is to create spaces where people feel seen, supported, and equipped to thrive.

Sharlene H. McClendon is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), Clinical Director, and Christian Counselor who provides compassionate online therapy to support individuals in healing, growth, and reclaiming their inner strength. She believes lasting change begins with the relationship you have with yourself—grounded in self-awareness, compassion, and acceptance.

Through secure online therapy, Sharlene supports clients navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, stress, burnout, and life transitions. She offers practical tools and clinical support to help individuals reconnect with their strength, embrace their identity, and move from surviving to thriving.

For those who wish to integrate faith, she offers a Christ-centered, holistic approach that supports emotional and spiritual growth, fostering clarity and resilience.

In addition to therapy, Sharlene is commissioned to serve schools, organizations, and professional communities as a speaker and educator. She provides training on burnout, compassion fatigue, trauma-informed care, emotional regulation, and mental wellness, equipping others with practical tools for real-world impact.

Through her work in Georgia and beyond, her mission remains:

To help individuals and communities rediscover their worth, reclaim their voice, and live with purpose and wholeness.

Sharlene H. McClendon is a published author whose writing brings hope, healing, and guidance to individuals navigating life’s challenges. Her contributions appear in widely recognized publications such as Chicken Soup for the Soul: Devotional Stories for Women and 101 Daily Devotions to Comfort, Encourage, and Inspire Women, where her stories offer encouragement, inspiration, and faith-based wisdom.

In an article for UpJourney, “What to Say to Someone Who Is Dying,” Sharlene provides compassionate guidance for supporting loved ones through the end-of-life journey, demonstrating her deep empathy and emotional insight. 

Contributed to public health conversations—her feature in DiaBeaters Magazine, “Diabetes, Mental Health, Assessment Tools, and Advocacy,” explores the intersection of diabetes and mental health, equipping readers with practical tools and knowledge to care for themselves and others.

In an article for Helpful Living, "Exhausted by Empathy: The Reality of Compassion Fatigue for Professionals," explores how compassion fatigue becomes a silent killer for helping professionals

Through every piece, Sharlene’s writing reflects her mission: to empower, uplift, and walk alongside individuals as they navigate life’s most meaningful and challenging moments.