Sharday Fields, LCSW

I attribute my success to my faith in Christ. There have been many seasons when I lacked resources, support, or certainty, and my faith sustained me through those moments. It strengthened my confidence, renewed my ability to trust myself, and sharpened my decision-making—particularly when navigating relationships and leadership. I have also learned to view mistakes as lessons rather than dwelling on minor setbacks. Counting it all joy means recognizing that growth comes through experience, and as long as I am learning and moving forward, I consider that success.

I also attribute my success to self-disclosure used with intention and care. Being transparent about the ebbs and flows of life helps normalize the human experience and offers perspective. It allows others to reframe their challenges and see what is achievable rather than feeling stuck or discouraged. Finally, my work is driven by a genuine desire to see others succeed, while remembering that growth in others requires continued growth in myself. I am a lifelong learner, and that commitment keeps my work grounded, reflective, and effective.

The best advice I received was, “Do what you love and you’ll never work another day in your life and be willing to have a niche.” Early in my career, I worried that narrowing my focus meant leaving people’s needs unmet. Over time, I realized that even if I attempted to address every pain or trauma, I could not help everyone effectively. I had to be honest about where I was most effective and where I was being called to serve.

I was also told that this field doesn’t choose you, that it isn’t a calling, and that “your people don’t find you.” My faith, work, and life experience proved otherwise. When I aligned my work with purpose, the right people found me. I experienced less exhaustion and burnout because I was working within my calling. After several cycles of trial and reflection, I learned to quiet feelings of defeat and truly listen for God’s guidance. Through that process, I relearned who I was, how I serve best, and why purpose matters just as much as clinical skill.

I would advise young women entering this field to first establish clear personal and professional values, as those values will guide decision-making when roles, expectations, or boundaries become unclear. Seek out mentors who model integrity, competence, and balance, and learn from their experiences rather than trying to navigate the field alone. It is equally important to understand your worth and advocate for yourself in a profession that is emotionally demanding and often undervalued. You do not need to have everything figured out before you begin. Clarity is built through action by showing up, making informed decisions, learning from mistakes, and continuing to move forward with intention. Over time, this process builds confidence.

From my experience, one of the biggest challenges is pacing. There are short-term goals and long-term goals, and I am very solution-focused—so are my clients. What I’ve learned is that it takes process to progress. People want relief quickly, but sustainable change requires trusting the journey and allowing the work to unfold.

Another major challenge is the way tech companies market themselves as mental health companies and promote therapy as cheap, fast, and transactional. While access is important, this messaging creates unrealistic expectations. Therapists are burned out and undervalued, while clients experience therapy fatigue and commitment issues because they have to start over again. There is also growing pressure around scaling to meet demand, often without clarity, depth, or respect for the ongoing nature of the work. Therapy does not require a demand to “graduate.” The work needs to intentional by setting goals.

This gap is also an opportunity to create to meet a need. It brings back the joy of the field. That is why I developed a coaching program focused on Developing Identity and Relationships with Personal Values to teach self worth and value matching. When offerings are built with purpose, it's felt and known, both by other professionals who want to collaborate and by clients who are seeking something meaningful. When God places ideas on your heart and he will give you the ability to carry it out.

The values that guide both my life and my work are faith, integrity, growth, purpose, transparency, rapport, and value matching. Faith keeps me grounded and steady, especially when working in complex, high-need environments. Integrity matters to me because people deserve honesty, consistency, and accountability; when these are both given and received, healing occurs. I place a strong emphasis on transparency and rapport so individuals feel genuinely seen, heard, and respected. Value matching is central to both my work and personal life, helping people align who they are with how they live and relate to others. Growth and purpose remind me to continue learning, evolving, and creating with intention.