Meet Kanieka Shumate, MS, LPCA, senior clinician, Wheeler’s Intensive In-Home Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Services (IICAPS) program. For more than nine years, Kanieka has helped children and families work through challenges and find hope again.
In her role, Kanieka oversees case management, provides intensive therapy, and connects families with important community resources, from job opportunities to educational support. Her work goes far beyond the office. She meets families where they are, at home, in school, and in the community, to get a full picture of their lives and what they need to succeed.
Recently, Kanieka supported a teen who had been running away and struggling with physical aggression. After just two months of consistent work with Kanieka and her parents, everything started to change. The teen began going to school every day, joined the drama club, and started rebuilding their relationship with her family.
For Kanieka, the turning point came from really listening to the parents and understanding what was happening at home before making a plan. “The best way to make a change was by starting with the parents,” she said.
When asked what keeps her at Wheeler, Kanieka doesn’t hesitate. “My clients and the results I see,” she shared. “It’s rewarding to witness their progress and to know I’ve played a part in that journey.”
Before joining Wheeler, Kanieka spent over 13 years as a special needs teacher, which sparked her passion for helping children thrive. That experience eventually led her back to school to study psychology and deepen her impact.
Outside of work, Kanieka loves to dance, explore new restaurants (her favorite is The Capital Grille), and express herself through fashion. She also appreciates Wheeler’s culture of support. “My supervisors listen, are attentive, and genuinely care,” she said. “That kind of environment makes it easy to give my best every day.”