Kalamazoo, Michigan, United States
Helping People Heal Relationships, Resolve Conflict, and Restore Balance.
Whether you're looking for therapy, mediation, or support, we're here to help you take the next step toward healing, healthie
About Becoming Balanced
Our Philosophy
Every person experiences conflict.
Sometimes it's internal.
Sometimes it's between spouses.
Sometimes it's between parents.
Sometimes it's within families, workplaces, schools, or communities.
At Becoming Balanced, we believe lasting change happens when people have the tools, support, and understanding to navigate life's most difficult conversations and seasons.
That's why we combine evidence-based mental health care, conflict resolution, and education to help people create meaningful and lasting change.
How We Help
Heal
Evidence-based therapy for children, teens, adults, and couples.
✓ Individual Therapy
✓ Trauma Therapy
✓ Couples Therapy
✓ Children & Teens
Resolve
Helping individuals and families navigate conflict with dignity.
✓ Civil Mediation
✓ Co-parenting Support
✓ Parent Consultation
Grow
Helping organizations and communities thrive.
✓ Workshops
✓ Speaking
✓ Organizational Training
✓ Community Partnerships
At Becoming Balanced, we believe every conflict has an emotional component, and every emotional struggle affects our relationships. That's why we combine therapy, mediation, and education to create lasting solutions—not temporary fixes.
Meet Your Therapist & Mediator
Meet Shacara Burrel, J.D,LCSW
Founder & Visionary of Becoming Balanced, LLC
Certified Civil Mediator
Gottman Level 1
I founded Becoming Balanced because I saw people struggling with emotional pain and relationship conflict without receiving support that addressed the whole picture.
As both a therapist and lawyer, I've learned that healing and conflict resolution often go hand in hand. My goal is to help individuals, families, and communities move forward with greater clarity, confidence, and balance.
Shacara Burrel is the founder of Becoming Balanced, LLC, a wellness-centered practice dedicated to helping individuals, families, and communities restore peace and healing. With a dual Juris Doctor and Master of Social Work degree from Western Michigan University and Cooley Law School, Shacara blends the worlds of law and social work in a way that is both compassionate and transformative.
Her professional journey reflects her deep commitment to advocacy and holistic well-being. Shacara has served as a Domestic Violence Staff Attorney with VOCA/CVLAP, walking alongside survivors as they navigated the legal system. She has supported families as a Parent Educator and Liaison with Kalamazoo RESA, uplifted voices as a Family Interviewer with the Fetal Infant Mortality Review (FIMR), and worked with youth in alternative schools and within the justice system. Each role strengthened her belief in the power of resilience and the importance of culturally responsive, trauma-informed care.
As a Certified Civil Mediator, Shacara also brings a unique ability to bridge conflict with empathy and legal insight. Whether in mediation, therapy, or community advocacy, her approach is rooted in creating accessible, empowering spaces where people can find balance.
Beyond her professional work, Shacara is a proud mother of two whose personal experiences as a woman of color and single parent shape the heart of Becoming Balanced,LLC. Her story is one of perseverance, faith, and vision — a reminder that healing is possible and balance is attainable.
At Becoming Balanced, LLC, Shacara’s mission is clear: to redefine well-being by combining advocacy, therapy, and holistic support, ensuring every person has the tools to heal, grow, and thrive.
Financial Ease, Your Way!
At Becoming Balanced, we prioritize your convenience & well-being. Managing payments is as seamless as your journey toward balance. We offer flexible payment options, including:
Pay by ACH Bank Transfer:
Credit Cards American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
Traditional Methods: Cash & Check
Digital Wallets: Venmo, Cash App & Zelle
Insurance:
We're committed to making mental health accessible. Becoming Balanced proudly accepts various insurance plans, including but not limited to:
Aetna
ASR/Physicians Care
BCBS/BCN
CIGNA
McLaren
Medicaid
Meridian
Molina Healthcare
Physicians Health Plan
UnitedHealthcare UHC | UBH|UMR|Surest
Cofinity
VA Community Plan
Evernorth Behavioral Health
First Health Network
Optum
*Inquire about other plans*
Online Payments & Giving
Exciting news! You can now make payments and contribute to our mission online. Whether it's a session payment or a heartfelt donation, every contribution matters. Thank you for being an essential part of the Becoming Balanced community.