MEET DR. MERCEDES SAMUDIO, LCSW
Inclusive, anti-racist Mental Wellness & parent coaching
Let’s start with the question you might be thinking:
How can someone without kids help me as a parent?
Here’s the truth: I am the child of the kind of parent I now support.
I was raised by someone who wasn’t my biological mother but was my mom in every way that mattered. That experience shaped how I see parenting, family, and healing. It gave me a front-row seat to the complexities of raising a child while healing your own wounds.
I’ve walked with countless families (biological, blended, chosen) through the chaos of parenting, identity, and shame. And through my own healing, I learned this:
Parents don’t need perfection. They need space.
Shame-Proof Parenting was born from this truth: that parenting doesn’t come with a manual, and yet the world still expects you to get it right, all the time.
So I created a framework that helps parents connect with themselves, repair when things fall apart, and parent from a place of reflection instead of reaction.
I don’t need to be a parent to support you - I’ve lived the impact of parenting. And I’ve committed my life’s work to helping parents like you feel seen, held, and human again.
Because you can’t raise emotionally healthy kids if you’re not given space to be an emotionally healthy adult.
So, who are you, and how do I support you?
You’re a Black parent raising a tween, and you know just how overwhelming that journey can be. Between managing your child’s emotional development and navigating the very real pressures of today’s world, it can feel like the weight of the world is on your shoulders. You’re balancing your own mental wellness while trying to raise a healthy, resilient child, and sometimes it feels like you’re doing it all on your own. But you don’t have to. You deserve culturally expansive support that genuinely understands your challenges, and that’s exactly what you’ll find here.
At Shame Proof Parenting, we understand the unique emotional and mental demands placed on Black parents of tweens. You’re working hard to nurture your child’s growth while also breaking generational cycles and facing the pressures of society. We’re here to offer you the tools, guidance, and community you need to thrive in your parenting journey. Our framework is designed to support you as you navigate these critical years, giving you confidence and peace of mind in the decisions you make for your family.
This is a space where your family’s well-being is the priority. Whether it’s through one-on-one coaching, intensives, groups, or practical workshops, you’ll find the resources to help your tween thrive emotionally, mentally, and physically, while also taking care of your own mental wellness.
My Approach
Your bring the frame (that’s the stuff you want to work on) and I’ll bring the frameworks (that’s the tools I’ll use to support you)! I use the following to support Black parents in raising whole, resilient Black tweens…
Trauma-Informed
I’m trained in practices that take the whole person in mind. When we work together, I acknowledge and directly target the experiences that have been most overwhelming, frightening, and long-lasting so that you and your family can begin feeling connected again.
Inclusive and Anti-Racist
Families look different (for instance, I was raised by my grandmother while my siblings were raised by other family members), and that matters when you’re exploring what your family endures together. You deserve someone who understands that family is what we create for ourselves, not what others say it is.
Shame Proof Parenting
#1 Amazon Bestseller | Award-Winning Guide for Raising Whole, Healthy Kids
Parenting doesn’t need more shame—it needs more connection.
Whether you're navigating tantrums, tween emotions, or teenage rebellion, this book helps you:
Communicate with clarity
Discipline without guilt
Build a parenting style that actually works for you
If you’ve ever wondered, “Am I doing this right?”—this is your answer.
FAQs
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Most sessions are 50 minutes. Intensives or consultations may be longer, and we’ll talk about that if it applies to your care. Initial consultations are 30 minutes.
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We get to know each other. I’ll ask some questions about your goals, your history, and what brought you in. You can ask me questions too; this is a two-way fit.
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That depends on your needs. Most clients start weekly, and we reassess from there. Some shift to biweekly or monthly as progress happens. Also, with other offerings there may be different commitments based on what we’re working on.
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My standard session fee is $300. I offer intensives, consultations, and supervision at varying rates. After our initial consultation, we’ll discuss session rates.
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That’s something we talk about. I welcome feedback and we’ll explore what’s not feeling right. If I’m not the right fit, I’ll help you find someone who is. No shame. Just care.
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Yes! My work centers the lived experiences of Black families, including parenting through neurodivergence, trauma, and cultural stigma. We’ll make space for all the identities and truths in your family.
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Absolutely. You don’t have to wait until you're "healed" to be a good parent. In fact, parenting while healing is part of the work we’ll do together—with compassion and without shame.
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Yes. My supervision blends clinical development with personal insight, especially for BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ clinicians navigating their own healing while doing the work.
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Yes, I hold space for those doing justice, education, and emotional labor. You deserve rest, clarity, and care, not just productivity.
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Not at all. I meet you where you are. You don’t need the “right” words. Just come as you are. I’ll help you build language, insight, and safety as we go.