01 · Who Shonsai works with

Shonsai works with stress, Anxiety, relationship issues and trauma and abuse

Shonsai lists 5 specialisms and 32 further focus areas. Specialisms are the subjects Shonsai chose to list first, which is the closest a listing gets to “this is my actual practice”.

02 · In Shonsai's own words

What Shonsai says about the work

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

I'm Shonsai Dickson, a therapist dedicated to supporting individuals through life's most challenging moments. I work with clients navigating depression, anxiety, stress, relationship difficulties, trauma, and self-esteem concerns. My approach is grounded in compassion, cultural responsiveness, and a deep commitment to honoring each person's unique identity and values.

I believe therapy works best when you feel truly seen and understood. I create a safe, affirming space where you can explore your experiences without judgment. Whether you're working through past pain, managing present struggles, or building toward a stronger sense of self, I'm here to walk alongside you with genuine care and professional support.

I draw on evidence-based therapeutic practices to help you gain insight, build resilience, and move forward at your own pace. My goal is to empower you to reclaim your voice and live more authentically.

If you're considering therapy, I want you to know that taking this step takes real courage. I'm honored to be part of your healing journey.

Shonsai Dickson, on the BetterHelp listing · read 7 Nov 2026

03 · How Shonsai works

The 5 approaches Shonsai lists, in plain English

These are the clinical methods Shonsai lists. The descriptions are Maker Therapy's, not Shonsai'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 Shonsai runs a session.

Acceptance and Commitment TherapyACT

Rather than trying to argue a painful thought away, ACT works on loosening its grip and getting on with what matters to you anyway. Sessions spend real time naming your values, then building action around them while difficult feelings are still present.

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.

Motivational InterviewingMI

A way of talking about change with somebody who is genuinely in two minds about it. The therapist does not argue for the change; they help you say your own reasons out loud, which is the part that predicts whether it happens. Common around substance use and health behaviour.

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

Shonsai 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 Shonsai'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 Shonsai at this point.

2. Naming Shonsai specifically

   BetterHelp matches algorithmically by default, so asking for Shonsai 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 Shonsai.

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 Shonsai

Built from what Shonsai actually lists, so they are answerable and specific rather than generic. Maker Therapy's, not Shonsai's - Shonsai 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

LCSW

Licensed in

Georgia

Licence

GA LCSW CSW010767

Licence number

CSW010767

Licence expires

30 Sep 2028

NPI

1982585311

Years in practice

4

Gender

Female

Languages

English

International clients

Not accepted

Listed since

25 Oct 2026

07 · Provenance

Where every line on this page came from

Shonsai'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 7 Nov 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 Shonsai. 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.