Shannen earned her Master of Social Work degree from the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at the University of Southern California in 2018. During her graduate training, she provided community-based mental health services to survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking in both Orange and Los Angeles Counties, where she developed a deep appreciation for the strength and resilience people demonstrate during times of crisis.
While pursuing licensure, Shannen served transitional-age youth in Los Angeles as a case manager for an independent housing and education program, emphasizing compassion, patience, and rapport-building. During the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, she worked as an on-site case manager at a psychiatric hospital, collaborating closely with interdisciplinary medical and psychiatric teams to advocate for patients and support treatment coordination. Shannen became a licensed clinical social worker in 2023.
As a clinician, Shannen practices a trauma-focused and strength-based approach that emphasizes healing intergenerational trauma, fostering self-empowerment, and nurturing the inner child. She incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), mindfulness, and somatic techniques to support deeper self-understanding and emotional regulation. Shannen believes therapy is a collaborative process grounded in authenticity, compassion, and self-discovery.
Outside of session, Shannen enjoys volunteering at the local aquarium to advocate for Southern Sea Otters; convincing naysayers that Hufflepuffs are “particularly good finders” and drinking copious amounts of iced oolong tea.
