- Addictions
- Self esteem
- Communication
About Shani
Shani Leal is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Texas with seven years of experience. She focuses on young adult issues and common concerns for people in their late teens and twenties, including anxiety, stress, self-esteem, relationship struggles, and life transitions.
Shani works with people facing addiction, depression, bipolar challenges, and trauma and abuse. She also supports those dealing with adoption and foster care questions, sexual assault recovery, codependency, and multicultural concerns. Her background includes helping clients with parenting strain, career uncertainty, and compassion fatigue.
Her practice emphasizes practical conversation and problem-solving. Sessions address communication problems, setting boundaries, and coping skills for sudden change. She aims to help clients make sense of difficult events and rebuild routines that feel manageable.
Shani draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques alongside attention to cultural background. She listens for patterns that keep people stuck and suggests exercises and small behavioral steps to try between sessions. Work often includes skills for stress and emotion regulation, clearer communication, and rebuilding self-worth.
People typically come to work on specific problems like recovering from sexual assault, improving relationships, or finding a sense of purpose after school or a big move. The process is collaborative and paced to each person's readiness. To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How evidence-based methods work in online sessions
Shani uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide work with stress, trauma, and life transitions. Cognitive approaches focus on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new ways of thinking to reduce anxiety and low mood. Behavioral strategies involve small, practical steps to change routines and build skills, which can help with addictions, depression, and coping after big life changes.She also integrates trauma-informed practices that prioritize pacing and safety when processing difficult events. This means working slowly through memories or reactions, teaching grounding and emotion regulation skills, and deciding together when to move deeper into healing work. The therapist and client collaborate to choose which techniques fit best for the problem at hand and the client's comfort level.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shani will help figure out what methods match a person's needs, goals, and preferences through early conversations and check-ins. That plan can change as progress is made and new priorities emerge.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around school, work, or other commitments, reduce commuting time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework to work well over distance, helping therapy fit into everyday life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
7+ years
Listed in
Texas
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with most?
She helps with anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, addictions, trauma and abuse, and young adult issues like career and life changes.
What is her general therapeutic style?
She uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and practical conversation to identify unhelpful patterns and teach skills for stress and emotion regulation.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has seven years of experience working as a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas.
Where is she based and licensed?
She practices in Texas and holds a Texas LPC credential.
Can I work with her if I live outside the US?
She does not accept international clients at this time and works with people located in Texas.
What session formats are offered?
Session formats are not specified here; confirm the current options before booking to know whether video or phone sessions are available.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.