- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship conflict
- Trauma informed methods
About Shawna
Shawna Pankonin is an LPC - Licensed Professional Counselor in Mississippi with 14 years of experience in the mental health field. She works with common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, self-esteem, career questions, and issues related to LGBT identity and bipolar disorder. Her background also includes adoption and foster care, blended family issues, caregiver stress, and communication problems.
She has worked in homes, residential care, schools, youth court systems along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, outpatient clinics, and a Child Advocacy Center. That range of settings means she has seen many different situations and needs. Shawna draws on that variety when she thinks about what might help someone now.
Her approach centers on the client as the expert on their life. She uses client-centered methods alongside techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, narrative work, and solution-focused methods. In practice that looks like listening first, then trying specific tools to reduce stress, change unhelpful thinking, or experiment with small steps toward goals.
Sessions are practical and direct. Shawna describes working collaboratively to set goals, build skills, and address problems such as family conflict, parenting strain, or the aftereffects of trauma. She is upfront that change requires effort and that therapy is a process of steady work rather than a quick fix.
Across her years of practice she has repeatedly seen how important it is for people to be heard and validated. Her work aims to help clients gain clarity, develop coping skills, and take steps that increase their sense of control and confidence.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding you as the expert on your life. Online work can use that same focus by prioritizing whatever feels most urgent and building goals from there. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, behaviors, and feelings and teaches concrete skills to shift unhelpful patterns; it works well for anxiety, depression, and stress through short exercises and homework. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention and breathing practices to reduce reactivity and improve focus, which can help with anxiety and anger.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with the client to choose which methods to try, adjust techniques based on what helps, and revisit goals as progress is made. That collaborative planning helps match methods to a person's needs and preferences.
Confirm the session formats offered before scheduling. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions around study, work, and caregiving by reducing travel and allowing more flexible timing. Some formats also let clients use audio-only check-ins when a shorter conversation is needed or choose video when visual connection helps. Ask about the specific session options to see what fits into daily life best.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Listed in
Mississippi
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship conflict, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting concerns, self-esteem, career issues, LGBT concerns, and bipolar disorder among other family-related issues.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centered approach and combines practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, narrative work, and solution-focused techniques to set goals and build skills together.
How much experience does she have?
Shawna has 14 years of experience working across settings including homes, residential care, schools, youth court systems, outpatient services, and a Child Advocacy Center.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an MS and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Mississippi.
Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with clients outside the United States?
She accepts international clients.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps do I take to begin working with her?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then 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.