01 · Who Shannon works with

Shannon works with stress, Anxiety, trauma and abuse and grief

Shannon lists 13 specialisms and 23 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Shannon chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Shannon's own words

What Shannon says about the work

Reproduced in full and unedited - not summarised, not tightened, not rewritten in a house voice.

Hi, I’m a licensed therapist who helps people work through life’s challenges-whether it’s stress, anxiety, grief, relationship issues, or just feeling stuck. If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed, disconnected, or unsure of what to do next, you’re not alone-and you don’t have to figure it all out by yourself.

I have a master’s degree in counseling and years of experience supporting people from all walks of life. I also help caregivers, helpers, and those who are used to being strong for everyone else finally have a space to focus on themselves.

My style is warm, down-to-earth, and real. I’m not here to judge or give generic advice. I’ll meet you where you are, listen closely, and help you better understand what you’re feeling and why. Together, we’ll explore what’s working, what’s not, and how to build habits and mindsets that support the life you want.

In our sessions, we’ll talk about things that matter to you at your pace. I use proven tools that can help you manage emotions, make sense of your thoughts, and feel more in control-even when life is hard. My goal is to create a space where you can be yourself, feel safe, and make lasting changes that feel good-not forced.

If you’re curious about therapy but not sure what to expect, that’s okay. You don’t have to have all the answers to get started. I’d be honored to walk with you as you find your way forward.

Shannon Samuel, on the BetterHelp listing · read 9 Oct 2026

03 · How Shannon works

The 7 approaches Shannon lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Shannon lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Shannon's - a general explanation of what each method is, so the list means something before you have spoken to anybody. They are not a claim about how Shannon runs a session.

Client-Centred TherapyPerson-centred · Rogerian

The therapist does not steer toward a technique or a diagnosis. They offer sustained, non-judgemental attention and reflect back what they hear, on the premise that people find their own direction when they are genuinely listened to. Often what people mean by “someone who just gets it”.

Cognitive Behavioural TherapyCBT

Structured, present-focused work on the loop between what you think, how you feel and what you then do. Usually means noticing a thought pattern in the room, testing it against evidence, and practising something different between sessions. Among the most heavily researched talking therapies for depression and anxiety.

Emotionally Focused TherapyEFT

Built for couples and rooted in attachment: the recurring argument is treated as a cycle two people are stuck in rather than as one person's fault. Sessions work to interrupt the cycle and get to what each person is actually asking for underneath it.

Mindfulness-Based TherapyMBCT

Trains attention on what is happening right now - body, breath, the thought as it arrives - so distress can be observed rather than automatically acted on. Strongest evidence is in preventing depression from recurring, and it is usually taught as a practice you keep doing outside the session.

Solution-Focused Brief TherapySFBT

Starts from where you want to end up rather than from how you got here. Sessions look for the times the problem is already smaller and work out what is different about those, so the number of sessions tends to be short and the work concrete.

Trauma-Focused TherapyTF-CBT · trauma-informed

CBT adapted for people whose difficulty is rooted in a frightening or overwhelming event. Pacing is the point: safety and stabilisation come first, the memory itself is approached gradually and only when you are ready, and the aim is that recalling it stops hijacking the present.

Internal Family SystemsIFS

Treats the mind as made up of parts - the critic, the one who withdraws, the one that keeps everything running - each of which is trying to protect you. The work is getting to know them rather than overruling them.

04 · What happens next

From this page to a first session

Shannon practises through BetterHelp, so the route in is BetterHelp's. This is that sequence, written by Maker Therapy from the platform's published process - not a description of Shannon's own practice, and not a promise about how quickly anything happens.

1. A questionnaire, not a booking form

   BetterHelp opens with a set of questions about what you are dealing with, what you want from therapy, and any preferences on the therapist. You are not booking Shannon at this point.

2. Naming Shannon specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Shannon is a step you have to take. There is a field for requesting a specific therapist during sign-up, and you can switch afterwards from your account. Starting from a link on this page does not by itself assign you to Shannon.

3. If the caseload is full

   You will be offered somebody else rather than put on a waitlist. Worth knowing, because it is easy to assume a match is the person you asked for.

4. The first conversation

   A first session is typically history and orientation: what brought you, what has been tried, what you want to be different. It is also where the questions in the next section belong.

5. If the fit is wrong

   Changing therapist on BetterHelp does not need a reason. A first session that does not click is common and is not a verdict on therapy. That option existing is the main practical difference between a platform and a private practice.

05 · Before you commit

3 questions worth asking Shannon

Built from what Shannon actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Shannon's - Shannon has not seen them and is under no obligation to answer any of them.

• “You list both Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and Client-Centred Therapy. Which do you lean on with someone like me?”

  Those two point in different directions - one structured and led by the therapist, the other led by you. The answer tells you what the sessions will actually feel like.

• “How do you decide when someone is ready to work on a traumatic memory itself?”

  Pacing is the biggest safety question in trauma work. A clear, unhurried answer here matters more than any credential.

• “How do you handle the gap between sessions if something comes up?”

  On BetterHelp this varies a great deal by therapist. Better to know the rhythm now than to discover it on a bad week.

06 · Practical details

Credentials and licensing

Credential

LPC

Licensed in

Texas

Licence

TX LPC 85253

Licence number

85253

Licence expires

31 Mar 2028

NPI

1679294532

Years in practice

10

Gender

Female

Languages

English

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

9 Jun 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Shannon's name, credential, state, subjects, approaches and biography are read from BetterHelp's therapist roster, which Maker Therapy re-reads once a day; this page reflects the reading taken on 9 Oct 2026. The licence number and NPI are cross-checked against public registers.

The plain-English method descriptions, the first-session walkthrough and the questions are written by Maker Therapy and labelled as such wherever they appear.

Maker Therapy is not BetterHelp, does not take bookings, and has not met Shannon. There are no reviews or ratings on this page because we have no way to verify one. If you start therapy through a link here, we may be paid a commission - it does not change your price and it does not affect who appears here or in what order.

Something on this page wrong or out of date? Report it and it will be checked against the source.