5 and Up: Meet the 5 Speakers Who Have Been at WAG for 5 Years or More – Shayna Barksdale

Contributed by: Ashley Erickson

In case you missed it, this is a part of the  “5 and Up” post series showcasing speakers at the We are Girls Austin Conference that has been shared throughout the week. These 5 presenters continue to help girls #findtheirpower through their incredible work and deserve some recognition for all that they do. The final of the five is Shayna Barksdale!

Shayna Barksdale

Tell us a little bit about yourself.

I love Starbucks and everything pink, I am a girly girl and proud of it, also I love working with girls, young women and their families!  My current obsession is my dog Martin.

What is your company’s name and what do you do?

I am the owner of Austin and Houston Therapy for Girls and we provide mental health services to girls 5-25.

When did you hear about the Girls Empowerment Network?

I worked for AISD from 2000-2007 and loved the idea of GEN, wanted to be involved in anyway that I could.

How long have you been presenting at the We Are Girls Conference?

I have been presenting at the We are Girls Conference for the last 5 years.

Why do you keep on coming back to WAG? What is your favorite part about WAG and why?

I love meeting all of the mothers and daughters, they teach me so much about being brave!

If you could tell your 12-year-old self anything, what would it be?

To the photo above:  “Your inner beauty will shine through and all the awkwardness to feel right now will someday go away, you are loved and you are enough.”

What do you think is the biggest challenge facing girls, today?

Most of the girls I work with really struggle with anxiety and not feeling good enough, what I refer to as your shame gremlin.  The little voice inside your head that says “ if only you were______ enough, you would feel like you belong…”