Dr. Carla J. Cooke: A Beacon of Hope and Mental Wealthness in a World in Need
Meet Dr. Carla J. Cooke, the esteemed global psychologist whose mission is to spread a message of healing to the world. With a focus on the importance of mental wealthness, which Dr. Carla defines as living optimally and in a peak performance state emotionally, mentally, and relationally. She also addresses the integration of faith and mental health, emphasizing the significance of sound soul care.
Dr. Carla’s career has been dedicated to ensuring that communities have the necessary tools and resources for healthy psychological experiences. She has served as Assistant Commissioner for the State of NJ and later founded the renowned counseling center, Sanctuary of Hope and Healing. Her efforts to promote trauma-informed evaluations has garnered national and international attention on addressing the misdiagnosis and misaligned recommendations for individuals within communities of color, who are often overrepresented in systems. Additionally, she continues to serve as an expert witness in legal matters involving child welfare, discrimination, sexual assault, and personal injury.
When asked to describe herself in two words, Dr. Carla chooses “relentless” and “faith-full.” She explains that her relentless nature has propelled her through completing a doctoral program, obtaining licenses and certifications in psychology, and becoming an ordained minister. It is this persistence that drives her to serve others through her various capacities. As for being faith-full, Dr. Carla attributes her strength and sustenance to her unwavering faith in God. She strives to live a Holy Spirit-led life and recognizes that everything she is and has is because of Him.
Reflecting on a life experience that shaped her into the woman she is today, Dr. Carla reveals that she has experienced both sides of the healing journey as the healer and person who needed help. By giving herself the gift of therapy, she transformed her thoughts, beliefs, and behaviors that limited her potential. Through therapy, she was able to reprocess traumatic experiences and address dissociative episodes that left her feeling disconnected from others and herself. Confronting her own brokenness allowed her to emerge on the other side and live a life of wholeness.
Dr. Carla’s ministry and brand promote the idea that “Healed People Heal People.” She believes that as individuals heal, they are able to extend healing to others. Her global effort focuses on intergenerational healing, tackling pervasive patterns of pain that keep women locked in negativity. Through social media, speaking engagements, and coaching opportunities, she dismantles limiting mindsets, provides strategies for peak performance, and inspires women to embrace emotional freedom and pass it on to future generations.
In her work, Dr. Carla impacts the lives of high-achieving women entrepreneurs by guiding them towards transformational healing. She emphasizes the importance of mental wealthness principles that support emotional maturity, mental fortitude, peak performance, and inner peace. In her coaching programs, she centers on building essential self-skills for success. Individual and group coaching, valuable content in her exclusive Facebook community, and online masterclasses are all available to women seeking growth. Additionally, Dr. Carla speaks at women’s conferences, delivering keynote talks and workshops that address internal barriers hindering women from operating effectively in their purpose.
Walking in purpose and power is a defining aspect of Dr. Carla’s life. She believes that her current work is her God-given assignment. From a young age, she had a deep interest in human behavior and wrote a poem about “growing up and growing up free” to help others. Recognizing her role in unlocking untapped potential, she stepped out of the therapy office to spread her powerful message of transformational healing on a global stage. For Dr. Carla, walking in purpose and power means knowing and embracing her unique calling.
While Dr. Carla’s ministry and business have faced numerous challenges, scaling the business stands out as a particularly significant hurdle. She has grappled with the desire to reach as many women as possible with impactful services. To overcome these challenges, she emphasizes the importance of collaboration and investing in mentors and coaches. Participating in a mastermind with like-minded women entrepreneurs and learning from those who are further along the journey has proven invaluable.
In closing, Dr. Carla shares a quote from Maya Angelou that resonates deeply with her: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Leaving a lasting, positive impression is Dr. Carla’s ultimate goal in her partnerships and relationships. She values authentic connections and invites readers to connect with her on various social media platforms (@drcarlajcooke). Additionally, she offers a free download on her website (www.drcarlajcooke.com), where she takes readers on a short yet impactful journey towards living a mentally wealthy life.
