Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Omaràn Lee.
Hi Dr. Omaràn , so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I was born and raised in North Nashville, Tennessee, where faith, family, and the cultural fabric of the Black community shaped my earliest sense of purpose. I grew up in a multigenerational household filled with wisdom, discipline, and love. I watched my grandmother, Clara Bell Lee, serve others with grace and quiet strength. I was deeply influenced by the spiritual rhythms of the Black church, the struggle and perseverance of our people, and the stories of survival and faith passed down through generations.
I didn’t always know I’d become a pastor or therapist—but I always knew I was called to care. I began my academic journey at Fisk University, earning a B.A. in English, where I learned the power of words and storytelling. I went on to receive my Master of Divinity from Lipscomb University, then completed a Doctor of Ministry in Clinical Pastoral Therapy from Memphis Theological Seminary. My research focused on the hidden burdens of bi-vocational clergy in the African American church—people who are often expected to pour out without being poured into.
Along the way, I completed five units of Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE), trained in hospital chaplaincy, and established a Non-Profit. I served in various ministry settings—from church basements to hospital ICUs—developing a pastoral approach that centers authenticity, mental wellness, and cultural relevance. One of my proudest moments was establishing the first-ever chapel at Nashville General Hospital, creating sacred space for patients and families in crisis.
In time, I founded Centers for Wellbeing, Inc., a private counseling and retreat practice designed for people who often carry invisible weight—clergy, caregivers, high-functioning professionals, and those navigating grief, trauma, or burnout. Through individual therapy, wellness retreats, and community programs, we help people reconnect with purpose, reclaim their stories, and begin again.
I also serve as Senior Pastor of NewWork Fellowship in Middle Tennessee, and Chief Spiritual Officer of SíCare, a pastoral wellness initiative under Reach One Teach One Foundation. Through this work, we’re creating intentional spaces for restoration and rest, especially for Black and brown spiritual leaders who are often last on their own list.
Over the years, I’ve raised over $1.6 million for community initiatives, served on advisory boards across faith and healthcare sectors, and received honors from both the Tennessee State House of Representatives and the Metro Council of Nashville. I currently chair the Tennessee AMEC Chaplain Committee and co-chair the Vanderbilt Memory & Alzheimer’s Community Board. I also serve as Province Chaplain for the South Central Province of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
But beyond the titles, the work is personal. I’m the son of Tommie Louise Lee and the late William E. Fisher, Sr., profoundly shaped by my late stepfather, Billy Watkins, Jr. I’m married to Heather L. Lee, and we are raising three incredible children—Kiara, Omaràn II, and Iris Jade—along with our grandson, Kai. In my free time, I love traveling, golfing, grilling, reading, and writing. But above all, I love helping people find their way back to themselves.
This journey—of pain, purpose, and transformation—has taught me that healing isn’t just possible; it’s holy. And I’m here to walk people through it, one sacred step at a time.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It’s definitely been far from a smooth road. One of the biggest challenges has been navigating life as a bi-vocational leader—working multiple jobs not just to survive,but thrive, all while staying faithful to the call. There were years where I was pastoring a church, counseling clients, supporting a family, and launching community programs—often all at once. I didn’t have the luxury of choosing one lane. Instead, I had to become fluent in many: preacher, therapist, administrator, father, visionary, and entrepreneur.
Bi-vocational ministry isn’t just about having more than one job—it’s about carrying multiple callings and still showing up with integrity, even when you’re tired, underfunded, or unseen. I’ve known what it’s like to write sermons at midnight after working a full day, to take counseling calls in parking lots between meetings, to build a nonprofit budget on faith before funding.
But those hard years became my foundation. They sharpened my instincts and deepened my compassion. They also awakened the entrepreneur in me. I realized I couldn’t wait for institutions to create space for the kind of integrated healing work I felt called to do—so I built it myself.
That’s how Centers for Wellbeing was born—not as a business move, but as a response to a deep gap I saw in how we care for leaders, families, and communities. From there, I continued to expand—launching wellness retreats, consulting services, and strategic partnerships through organizations like Reach One Teach One and SíCare. And each endeavor has been about solving a problem I lived through: isolation, burnout, lack of access to culturally competent care.
So no, the road hasn’t been easy. But it’s been fertile. And every obstacle has been a lesson in resilience, creativity, and sacred responsibility. I’m still building—but now I know I’m building something that will outlast me.
As you know, we’re big fans of Centers For Wellbeing . For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Centers for Wellbeing is more than a counseling practice—it’s a sacred space for restoration. We specialize in helping individuals and couples navigate grief, trauma, burnout, life transitions, and spiritual exhaustion—especially those who are often the ones others rely on: caregivers, clergy, professionals, high-functioning leaders, and creatives.
What sets us apart is our holistic approach. We integrate psychological insight, spiritual care, and culturally grounded practices. Our work isn’t cookie-cutter—it’s deeply personal, trauma-informed, and rooted in liberation. We create space for people to exhale, reflect, reframe their stories, and move toward wholeness on their terms.
We offer individual counseling, couples therapy, telehealth groups, and private wellness retreats—with a focus on culturally competent, faith-affirming support. Whether someone is facing anxiety, grief, spiritual doubt, or just feeling stuck, our goal is to walk with them—not ahead of them.
Brand-wise, I’m most proud that Centers for Wellbeing has become a trusted space where people can be fully seen—without shame, stigma, or judgment. We don’t just talk about healing—we embody it, through how we show up, how we listen, and how we build community.
If there’s one thing I’d want readers to know, it’s this: you don’t have to fall apart to ask for help. You’re allowed to seek healing even when you’re the strong one. And at Centers for Wellbeing, you never have to carry it alone.
What does success mean to you?
I define success as alignment—when your purpose, your work, and your well-being are walking in the same direction.
Success isn’t just about titles, income, or recognition. For me, it’s about impact: Am I helping people heal? Am I creating spaces where others can breathe, grow, and become? Am I building something that outlives me?
It also means being whole enough to enjoy what I’m building—not just survive it. If my family is well, my spirit is at peace, and my work is bearing fruit in the lives of others, that’s success. It’s when I can look in the mirror and say, “I stayed true. I stayed rooted. And I did the work with love.”
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ctrswb.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ctrswb/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/96692073/admin/dashboard/
- Other: https://linktr.ee/dcsllc
