Shacara Burrel | Woman to Watch
- Year: 2026
- Location: WomanUp and Celebrate Kalamazoo
Shacara Burrel, JD, LCSW, is a mental health and wellness professional, attorney, educator, mediator, and entrepreneur whose work helps individuals, families, and communities navigate conflict, strengthen relationships, and create meaningful change.
She is the founder and owner of Becoming Balanced, LLC, a mental health and wellness practice dedicated to helping people build healthier relationships with themselves, with others, and within the communities where they live and work. As a licensed clinical social worker, lawyer, certified civil mediator, and professor, Shacara brings a unique multidisciplinary perspective to her work, creating spaces where people can engage in honest conversations, deepen understanding, and move forward with greater clarity.
A graduate of Western Michigan University, Shacara earned a Bachelor of Science in Family Studies before making university history as the first student to successfully complete its dual Master of Social Work and Juris Doctor program.
Shacara founded Becoming Balanced after recognizing a gap between two fields central to her career. While the legal system is designed to resolve disputes and mental health services can help people heal, few spaces intentionally bring the two together. Through Becoming Balanced, she integrates both disciplines to help individuals, families, and organizations better understand conflict, strengthen communication, and develop healthier, more sustainable relationships.
Whether working with clients in therapy, teaching in the classroom, facilitating mediation, or speaking to an audience, Shacara emphasizes that balance is not about perfection. Instead, she encourages people to intentionally direct their time, energy, and attention toward what matters most. A proud mother of two, she remains committed to helping people navigate challenges with confidence and build stronger relationships that strengthen families, connect communities, and create a more compassionate future.
At the heart of Shacara’s work is a simple but powerful belief: with understanding comes the power to change.
