Meet Dr. Haley Sparks
I have been surrendering to what is since I was a young child. When I was six years old, I was in a car accident that killed my mother in Nigeria. That day, I woke up in a ditch after falling asleep in the car next to my mother. In that moment of intense emotional and physical pain, I had no choice but to surrender to what was happening around me. They say children pick up skills easier than adults. From age six on, I understood that the skills of surrendering and allowing things to be was the way we were supposed to be living life. While my mother’s life was cut short, she instilled in me a deep connection to spirituality, love, and Black joy. She taught me to value and follow my intuition above all. By following my intuition, I got a PhD (and a masters at the same damn time!) by age 27, bought my first house abroad by age 31, and manifested a life traveling the world (63 countries and counting) while maintaining my dream job at my dream university in Los Angeles, California.
I live my life with joy and ease because I learned to surrender at such a young age. Now, I am living the life of my dreams, using the principles my mother’s life has taught me. I am here to honor my mother’s legacy by teaching others to do the same. My personal purpose is to simply make the world a better [read: kinder, more loving] place. I believe most peoples’ personal purpose is some derivative of this. I do that by helping individuals live more joyful, resistance-free lives.
It’s time to surrender, y’all.
By coaching people to find more ease and enjoyment, I help people to then positively impact those around them. Hurt people hurt people. Happy people help people. I am here to contribute to more happy, helping people in the world.
It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten
- African Proverb
Haley Sparks, PhD, MSW, is a psychologist, social worker, and Ease and Enjoyment coach that specializes in the skills of human engagement. As a coach, Haley primarily helps high-achieving Black people prioritize ease, peace, pleasure, love, and joy in all aspects of their lives. Haley has guided teams domestically and internationally on sustainable emotional strategies, self-awareness, and healthy communication. Haley serves as the inaugural Director of Community and Organizational Development in the External Affairs division at UCLA and a Mental Health Program consultant at VISIONS,inc., a foundational consulting firm specializing in recognizing, understanding, and utilizing differences among individuals. Haley’s insights on effective engagement and emotional intelligence stem from her years of experience directing initiatives at the University of Michigan and the Women’s Center of SE Michigan. Prior to Ease and Enjoyment coaching, Haley worked as a therapist for individuals, couples, families, and groups and uses her clinical training to help in facilitation across environmental contexts. Haley received her PhD in Psychology and Masters of Social work at the University of Michigan.