Member Spotlight

Shontâ Price, LMFT

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a unique employment history.

Early on I dabbled in acting and was an extra on hit television shows such as Pacific Blue with Mario Lopez and Moesha with Brandy. I was in music videos (most notable: “Foolish” with Master P.) and was a seat filler for the Soul Train Awards, Lady of Soul Awards, The Grammys, and several daytime talk shows. I’ve also worked in banking and finance, and was a Workers Compensation Claims Professional, to name a few other areas of employment expertise. 

On a totally different career path, I was a Research Assistant under the direct supervision of Dr. Marquita Gammage, researching racial, historical, medical, educational, economic, and political ailments that psychologically and socially affect African American women.

What inspired me to become a therapist is that in every job setting that I have been in, I was in a helping role, psycho-educating people on how to unblock themselves. Many people would ask me questions like, “Are you a therapist?” or say to me, “You would be a good therapist!”. That feedback led me to pursue a career in mental health beginning as a Crisis Line Intake Evaluator, then a Patient Navigator, and then as a Peer Advisor and Mentor.  Currently, I provide mental health services in a community-based setting.

Areas of practice that I’m most passionate about are helping children, adolescents, families, couples, and individuals struggling with biracial and multi-ethnic barriers, trauma, and life-cycle problems. Using evidence-based interventions, I have helped diverse clients struggling with addiction, divorce, child custody battles, and involvement with child protective services.

I’ve found that life can bring both the expected and the unexpected, sometimes leaving us feeling stuck, anxious, or overwhelmed. Therapy can be a powerful place to pause, reflect, and begin moving toward a more connected and meaningful life.

I learned about LA-CAMFT through the big CAMFT website and was motivated to join the Black Therapist Support Group (BTSG) meetings. Those groups aroused my curiosity to explore the organization as a whole and brought me into a community of like-minded welcoming people!

Since joining LA-CAMFT, the most valuable part for me has been the close-knit community.  I was pleasantly surprised by the dedication, commitment, and enthusiasm that each one of the members contribute to the organization.

We all know that therapy work can feel isolating at times, although that has decreased since I joined LA-CAMFT.  The leadership of this organization and the diversity of the members have become supportive peer relationships for me.

Because historically the mental health field tends to lack diversity, being part of the Black Therapist Support Group allows me to feel included, supported, acknowledged, and has helped with peer guidance. The meetups have allowed me to help my peers avoid the pitfalls that I endured with the licensing exam, accruing hours, networking, and developing meaningful connections outside of therapy.

Professional development supports that I learned about through LA-CAMFT that have really stood out to me are the Black Therapist, White Therapists Fighting Racism, and MENA therapist community support groups. The icing on the cake has been the in-person socializing at the Spring Fling and Annual Summer Picnic events!

Trainees and associates can benefit from joining LA-CAMFT as they are learning the differences between working in community-based settings verses private practice, and figuring out what directions they want to head.  It can be extremely helpful to find guidance by a community of professionals who are actively involved outside of higher education.

I’m most excited about the warm, friendly people as I continue my journey with LA-CAMFT.  Being part of this professional community has increased my confidence as a clinician by having a community that embraces, encourages, and empowers me, allowing me to pass it forward to others.

Want to experience it? Be in attendance and feel the warmth!

Shontá Price, LMFT is a California native who earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with an emphasis in Marriage and Family Therapy. With 20+ years of experience, Shontá offers a warm, nonjudgmental space grounded in a trauma-informed, holistic approach, honoring the whole person with compassion, curiosity, and deep respect for their journey. She works with adults, teens, children, couples, and parents navigating challenges like depression, anxiety, bullying, low self-esteem, grief, and life transitions. She draws from psychodynamic, somatic, and attachment-based therapy, while also integrating evidence-based practices such as CBT and DBT.

LA-CAMFT invites two members each month to be featured in the Member Spotlight section of Voices - a new member (less than 5 years), alongside a long-time member (5+ years).  Candidates are chosen by current chapter leadership based on their regular participation in and contributions to LA-CAMFT. If you are an LA-CAMFT member and would like to be considered, please reach out to MembershipChair@LACAMFT.org and introduce yourself with the subject line “Member Spotlight Consideration” for more information.