Holistic Jungian therapist specializing in trauma and relationships
Hello, and thank you for taking your time to learn more about me! My name is Shawna, I am a licensed professional counselor in the state of Mississippi. I have over 12 years’ experience working in the mental health field. I have worked in a variety of settings including: in homes, providing residential level of care therapy services, schools, youth court systems throughout the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, outpatient services, as well as a Child Advocacy Center. Although that seems like a mouthful, it simply means that I have had experience working in a several different settings, with a broad range of clinical issues. I believe the best way to truly understand what someone is going through is to understand where they come from, let them be the expert on themselves and provide the services they need to help them succeed. I have the most experience working with stress reduction, anxiety, depression, anger management, family conflict, parenting skills, relationship conflict, and complex trauma/abuse. I also have experience with a wide variety of mental health disorders.
My dedication to the field of mental health stems from years of working with children, adolescents and their families, in state custody; along with watching friends and family members struggle with mental illness. I have seen firsthand that having mental health concerns can be difficult and cause feelings of despair and isolation; not to mention the process for getting help can be overwhelming. However, I also know from experience how much life can change for the better when you find the right support and take steps towards taking care of yourself!
I use a person-centered, holistic, and eclectic approach in treatment, meaning I begin where you are and tailor my treatment approach to your needs while being sensitive to how your personal thoughts, beliefs and lifestyle choices impact your experience. I primarily use evidence based techniques including cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused counseling. However, I do incorporate more “classical” approaches to counseling as well. I would describe my style as warm and supportive, but I am ready to help you tackle your struggle head-on. I am very creative and do not like to conform our sessions into something that will place a box around it. I want it to go where it needs to go for you to get what you need to feel empowered and in control. Remember, no one is a magician. No one can “fix” your situation. It will take time and hard work on your part to make the changes you want. If you’re willing to put in the work, I’m willing to walk alongside you and work as well! Together we can work on establishing goals and steps for you to understand the problem and gain the confidence to move forward and feel more in control of your life. Throughout my years of practice I’ve found a recurrent theme: the need to be heard, to be validated, and to know you are not alone!
Licensed · Professional · Cancel Anytime
Shawna Pankonin is a licensed professional counselor practicing in Mississippi with 14 years of experience in the mental health field. She holds graduate-level counseling credentials and is licensed as a professional counselor in Mississippi (MS LPC 1841).
Her background includes work in homes, providing residential level-of-care therapy services, in schools, with youth court systems throughout the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, in outpatient services, and at a Child Advocacy Center. This variety of settings has given her experience with a broad range of clinical issues and populations.
Shawna believes the best way to understand what someone is facing is to learn where they come from, allow them to be the expert on themselves, and offer the supports needed for success. She has the most experience helping people with stress reduction, anxiety, depression, anger management, family conflict, parenting skills, relationship conflict, and complex trauma and abuse, and she has worked with a wide variety of other mental health disorders as well.
Her dedication to mental health work grew from years supporting children, adolescents, and their families in state custody and from seeing friends and family members cope with mental illness. She understands how overwhelming seeking help can feel and how isolating mental health concerns may become, and she also knows how much can change for the better when someone finds the right support and commits to self-care.
Shawna uses a person-centered, holistic, and eclectic approach that begins where each person is and tailors treatment to individual needs while considering how thoughts, beliefs, and lifestyle influence experience. She primarily draws on evidence-based methods such as cognitive-behavioral therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused counseling, and she integrates more classical counseling approaches when appropriate. Her style is warm and supportive, yet direct and ready to address struggles head-on. She is creative in session structure and prefers to let sessions go where they need to so clients can feel empowered and gain control.
Shawna is clear that no one is a magician and no one can simply “fix” a situation overnight. Meaningful change takes time and effort from the client, and she is committed to walking alongside people who are ready to do that work. Together she helps establish goals and steps to understand problems and build confidence to move forward. Across her years of practice she has repeatedly seen a core need: to be heard, to be validated, and to know you are not alone.
For many common concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, relationship challenges, or navigating life changes, online therapy can be just as effective as traditional in-person sessions. Research and clinical experience support its effectiveness for these types of issues.
One major benefit is flexibility – people can connect in the format that suits them best, whether by video call, phone session, live chat, or in-app messaging. That flexibility makes it easier to fit counseling into a busy schedule and to access support from wherever you are.
Each available therapist is a licensed professional, and clients have the option to switch therapists if they feel another fit would be better. For many people, online therapy offers a practical, effective way to get consistent emotional support and to work toward their goals.
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