- ACT methods
- CBT techniques
- EMDR processing
About Shawna
Shawna Chandler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 20 years of clinical experience. She works with adults carrying stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, self-esteem struggles, and depression. Shawna names abandonment, caregiver stress, communication problems, codependency, and divorce among areas she commonly addresses.
She favors plain conversation and practical steps over jargon. Sessions focus on naming what feels heavy, sorting through the thoughts that follow, and practicing small behavioral changes. Shawna uses techniques drawn from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, EMDR, and Client-Centered Therapy to match the moment in the room.
Clients can expect direct, down-to-earth discussion about feelings like guilt and shame and how those feelings affect daily choices. Shawna pays attention to how past hurt continues to show up in relationships and self-talk. She helps people notice patterns and try out different responses in between sessions.
Her approach blends skills training with processing painful memories when needed. That can mean learning breathing and grounding skills one week and working on a difficult memory the next. Shawna also supports practical problem solving around caregiving, communication, and major life transitions.
She practices in California and conducts sessions in English. People who are considering therapy are encouraged to review the online therapy options and the brief matching steps before scheduling a first appointment.
How therapeutic approaches fit into online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) encourages noticing painful thoughts without getting pulled into them and choosing actions that reflect personal values. It can help when guilt or shame keeps someone stuck in avoidance or self-criticism. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors interact and offers practical tools for shifting unhelpful thinking and testing new behaviors in everyday life. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a method used to work through traumatic memories and the strong emotions tied to them; it can be helpful when past hurts continue to shape current shame or relationship patterns.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, symptoms, and preferences and try methods that match those needs. That might mean starting with skills from ACT or CBT and moving to memory-focused work like EMDR when the timing feels right.
Confirm the available session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, allow shorter check-ins when days are tight, or remove the need to travel to appointments. Therapists and licensed professionals often adapt exercises and homework for remote sessions, so practical skill work and memory processing can both be done through whatever formats are arranged.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, self-esteem challenges, and depression. Additional focuses include abandonment, caregiver stress, communication problems, codependency, and divorce.
How does she approach guilt and shame?
She uses straightforward talk and practical exercises to help people notice how guilt and shame affect choices. Techniques may include cognitive strategies and grounding skills to reduce immediate distress.
What is her clinical background?
She has 20 years of experience as a clinician and holds the LCSW credential. Her work history includes helping people with trauma, relationship struggles, and mood symptoms.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California. Sessions are conducted in English.
Can I work with her from outside the United States?
International clients are not currently accepted. Sessions are offered in English for people located within the therapist's permitted region.
What session formats are offered?
Confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Please review the online therapy options during the sign-up steps.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location, and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. Exact fees are provided during the matching and scheduling steps.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session. The matching steps guide you through selecting a time and noting your concerns.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.