Meet Shanika Johnson | CEO & Founder

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shanika Johnson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shanika, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
Prior to opening The Lifestyle Center, I had been operating a mental health group practice for several years and I wanted to continue to serve the needs of the community but in a different capacity. I always try to ensure that my thoughts align with my overall vision. On a daily basis, I would think how I could provide intervention services to those who may not be ready to start counseling services but still need educational tools and strategies to make better life decisions. During my thought process, I notice the high need for those who were court-ordered to receive quality educational treatment. These individuals needed support and help to become more aware of their behavior and choices in order to avoid future offenses and potential jail time. This sparked the idea for me to merge clinical care and educational resources which encouraged me to open The Lifestyle Center.

What should our readers know about your business?
The Lifestyle Center is an educational treatment center that focuses on court-ordered courses, employer-mandated trainings and clinical evaluations. We offer classes such as anger management, drug and alcohol awareness, parenting skills, theft/shoplifting and more. We serve juveniles and adults, our center provides services throughout the week and weekends. Courses are led by qualified professional instructors and can be easily accessible online. One thing that sets our center apart from others is that we are Nationally Accredited which allows us to serve individuals in all 50 states. In addition to this, we offer classes in English and Spanish to be able to accommodate those who may have a language barrier.

In the beginning stages of opening the center, it was extremely difficult in finding certified instructors to serve on our staff and provide quality service to our students. I am very particular in our screening process to ensure that we have the right individuals to represent our center properly. It was also hard in developing the courses, curriculum and setting the availability of classes. For several months, I was extremely focused and had to sacrifice my leisure time to make sure that I used my time wisely and dedicated my work to the overall goal in opening the center. I want people to know that anything worth having will never come easy. If success is a priority to someone, sacrificing will not be optional it is required. There will be road bumps on the path to success but a person must be willing to keep pushing despite of all the things that are meant to stop them and know that they can still make it to the finish line.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
In terms of favorite spots, I would definitely say I enjoy a variety of places with a nice ambience whether it is brunch, lunch or dinner. Let’s start with brunch, I would definitely go to Toast on Lenox, Tribeca, 5Church Buckhead, South City Kitchen, Breakfast at Barney’s, Cafe Intermezzo, Two Urban Licks or Garden Park.

For a late lunch or dinner , I would reserve a table at The Consulate, Hal’s Steakhouse, Little Alley Steak, Southern Gentleman, Gypsy Kitchen, Rock Steady, Yebo Beach Haus or Pasha.

For a good cocktail or wine, I would definitely go to The Garden Room, St. Regis Bar, Red Phone Booth, Poor Calvins, Continent Restaurant, Himitsu or Fellaship Lounge, .

Honestly, one of the best things I love about Atlanta is the abundance of places to choose from to have a great outing!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would not be who I am or where I am without the love and encouragement from my Mother. She has always pushed me to go after my dreams and walk in my vision. My mom has the motto of “sky is the limit” which is why I never gave up when things became hard during my journey. I am also extremely grateful for my circle of friends who have supported me throughout my path to success. One of the most important things that I can say is that “I never stopped learning.” I try to obtain new information through a book, podcast or other resources almost every day. I really enjoy learning and I truly think having this habit contributed to my success greatly.

Website: www.thelifestylecenters.com

Instagram: @iamsnicole

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shanika-johnson-lcmhc-898142145/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086426469346

Image Credits
Photographer- Gavin Boulware IG: @iam_gavinb