The Comfort of Coming Home: Inside Dr. Cooper’s Sanctuary of Healing
Have you ever walked into a room and felt your shoulders instantly drop an inch? That creates a very specific feeling. It is the feeling of safety. It is the feeling of exhaling after holding your breath for too long. It is the feeling of home.
In the medical world, that feeling is rare. We usually expect cold waiting rooms, fluorescent lights that hum too loudly, and clipboards that feel more like interrogations than invitations.
But on South 37th Street in Louisville, there is a different kind of energy growing. It is called the Home Away from Home Therapeutic Center, or HAHTC for short. And true to its name, it does not feel like a clinic. It feels like a sanctuary.
The Architect of Empathy
At the heart of this sanctuary is Dr. Shaquilla Cooper.
To understand the center, you have to understand the woman who built it. Dr. Cooper has lived in Kentucky all her life. She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a Doctorate. She holds the Ben K. Richmond Legacy Business Award. She is a powerhouse of academic and professional credentials.
But if you ask her who she is, the titles come second. First and foremost? She is a mother of three. She is a neighbor. She is a listener.
Her journey into mental health did not start in a lecture hall. It started naturally, years before she ever got a license in 2014. She was simply the person people turned to. She was the friend who offered guidance, the shoulder to lean on, and the steady hand in a storm. She realized eventually that her natural instinct to support others could be more than just a character trait. It could be a vocation.
A Friendly Face in a Serious Place
We asked Dr. Cooper what she would want a client to say in a five star review. You might expect a doctor to want words like “efficient” or “brilliant” or “prestigious.”
Dr. Cooper said one word: Friendly.
That single word tells you everything you need to know about the culture at Home Away from Home. Therapy can be intimidating. Taking that first step to reclaim your mental health is scary. Dr. Cooper knows this. Her advice to potential clients is simply to “familiarize yourself.” She wants you to get to know the process, to ask questions, and to realize that therapists are just people equipped with tools to help you build a better life.
This is a grassroots organization. It is not a faceless corporate chain. It was founded in August of 2019 with a specific mission to serve the Chickasaw community of West Louisville and beyond. It is rooted in compassion and cultural responsiveness.
It Takes a Village
Dr. Cooper does not walk this path alone. The “Home” she has built is staffed by a team that understands that healing is holistic.
You cannot focus on your mental wellbeing if you are worried about where your next meal is coming from or how to navigate complex social systems. That is why the team includes dedicated Targeted Case Managers like Ashley Wilson and Tecoula Burnside. They are the navigators. They help families find resources and meet their basic needs so that the therapy can actually take root.
Then there is LaToya Johnson, a therapist who serves clients with Medicaid insurance, ensuring that quality care is accessible to the community.
Together, they form a safety net. They are not just treating symptoms. They are helping people rebuild their foundations.
Your Pathway to Renewal
What can you expect when you work with this business?
Expect to be seen. Expect a trauma informed approach that respects your history and your story. Expect a team that wants to help you reclaim your power.
Dr. Cooper describes her mission as a pathway to renewal. Life can leave us feeling fractured, tired, and lost. The Home Away from Home Therapeutic Center exists to help you put the pieces back together.
Whether you are dealing with grief, life stressors, or deep seated trauma, there is a seat waiting for you here. It is a place where you can take off the armor you wear for the rest of the world and just be.
It is therapy. But it is also a homecoming.
Experience it for yourself
If you are ready to start your journey, Dr. Cooper and her team are ready to welcome you.