Dr. Michele Balamani Silvera

 

Dr. Michele Balamani Silvera is a native New Yorker who has lived in the Washington Metropolitan area for over twenty-five years. She is the founding director of Baraka Counseling Center and the Dancing on Our Graves Institute for Life Enrichment.

Dr. B, as she is affectionately known, began her health care experience as a psychiatric nurse, and now has over thirty years of experience in the field of mental health care and wellness. She is especially known for her therapeutic work and counseling of couples, and the popular "I SEE U" intensive care (and small retreat) weekends for engaged and married couples. She is also known for her work with women dealing with depression.

Out of her years of experience as a therapist and a minister, and her doctoral studies in the field of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Dr. B wrote the book "Dancing On Our Graves: Healing the Hearts and Souls of Women," which focuses on a model of care for women of color called SHOUT (Sisters Helping Others Understand Themselves). To date hundreds of women are singing the praises of their SHOUT group experience, as Dr. B continues to facilitate these groups locally, nationally and internationally. She is also a contributing author in "Risking Connection in Faith Communities: Training Curriculum for Faith Leaders Supporting Trauma Survivors." Her latest book, "Thank U God, it's Monday!: Meditations & Motivation for Living a Great Full Life", is extremely popular as are the "Great Full Living" workshops she conducts using the small group experience to motivate and empower people to live Greater Fuller lives, the lives they were meant to live. 

Dr. Balamani Silvera's passion for facilitating holistic healing for the world community, and her extensive experience as a therapist, and ordained minister with government, military and private industry experience has placed her in popular demand as a speaker, trainer, consultant and facilitator. She has broad experience and acclaim for her local, national, and international development and facilitation of workshops, seminars, conferences and retreats that focus on areas of holistic health and well being. She has served as an adjunct professor of Counseling Psychology, at the University of Maryland, College Park, and Bowie State University.

Dr. B has enjoyed participation in many media experiences including co-hosting Heaven 1580's "Healing Moment's" with Dr. Barbara Reynolds, writing for Purpose Magazine, and a multitude of radio and TV guest spots as an expert in the field of women & depression, and holistic health and well being.

Dr. Balamani Silvera is an ordained minister who served as an Elder in the AME church for 15 years, before becoming the founding pastor of Prince of Peace Christian Community Church & Healing Center in Lanham, Maryland, a non-denominational church, under the pastoral covering of Bishop TD Jakes of Potter's House Ministries.

Dr. B describes this season of her life as one of extreme gratitude for the opportunities she continues to have to be an extension of God's love and healing wherever she is called, sent or planted.