Licensed to practice in California and accepts 73 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Depression, Trauma and PTSD and 7 more.
Shemya Vaughn
(she/her)
I am a Licensed Clinical Counselor in California with a doctorate in rehabilitation counselor education from Michigan State University. I have taught at three community colleges and four universities in the US. My book, Transgender Youth, was published in 2016 and I also co-authored a book, Trauma-Informed Care in 2021. I currently operate an online private practice providing therapy for anxiety, depression, and trauma to individuals in the BIPOC and LGBTQ+ communities. *If you would like a therapy session on a day and time that is not listed, send me a message to make an exception for you.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, I want to walk through the intake assessment with you instead of having you complete it and I read it before we meet. I find that individuals seeking therapy share more when I ask them a question versus reading the question on a page. At the end of the first session, I will ask about counseling goals, ask you to decide which goal to start with and develop a plan of action/treatment plan to help you feel better.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
While I am a gentle and nurturing therapist, I also adjust how we work together based on your personality. There are times when I will deliver direct feedback as softly as I can depending on the circumstances. Most people are able to get to where they need to go with a year of working with me.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
The clients that I find are a good fit with me include women of color and individuals in the gay and trans community who experience anxiety and depression due to childhood trauma.
Specialties
Top specialties
Anxiety
Depression
Trauma and PTSD
Other specialties
Career Counseling
Coping Skills
LGBTQ
Life Transitions
Peer Relationships
Racism
Sexual Abuse
I identify as
Black / African American
Buddhist
Person of Color (POC)
Woman
Serves ages
Adults (18 to 64)
Licensed in
California
Accepts
Aetna
Aetna - ASR Health Benefits
Aetna - Allied Benefits
Aetna - Luminare
Aetna - Medicare
Aetna - Moda
Aetna - WebTPA
Aetna – HealthEZ
All Savers
Ambetter from Health Net
Amerihealth Administrators
Amerihealth NJ Medicare Advantage
Anthem
Blue Cross
Independence Administrators
Independence Blue Cross
Arlo
AvMed
Blue Shield
Blue Shield of California - Medi-Cal
Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Blue Shield of California - Medicare
Independence Personal Choice 65 PPO
Independence Keystone 65 HMO
Carelon Behavioral Health (Commercial)
L.A. Care PASC-SEIU
L.A. Care Covered
L.A. Care Covered Direct
Sutter Health Plan
IHSS Healthy Workers
Cash - $215 per session
Centivo
Central California Alliance for Health (Medi-Cal)
Cigna
Cigna - HealthEZ
EAP:Cigna
EAP:Evernorth
EAP:UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Evernorth
GTEB
Gold Coast Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Gold Coast Health Plan Total Care Advantage (HMO D-SNP)
Golden Rule
Harvard Pilgrim/UnitedHealthcare
Health Net (Commercial)
Health Net (Medi-Cal)
Community Health Plan of Imperial Valley (Medi-Cal)
CalViva Health (Medi-Cal)
Health Plan of San Joaquin/Mountain Valley Health Plan – Medi-Cal
Humana - Medicare
Humana Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
L.A. Care Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
L.A. Care Medicare Plus (HMO D-SNP)
UnitedHealthcare/Optum
Optum
OptumHealth Complex Medical Conditions
Oscar
Oxford
Partnership HealthPlan of California (Medi-Cal)
SFHP Care Plus (HMO D-SNP)
San Francisco Health Plan (Medi-Cal)
Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal
Scripps Health Plan
Sharp Health Plan
Surest (formerly Bind)
Tufts Health/Cigna
United Medical Resources
UnitedHealthcare Dual (Medicare & Medicaid)
UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance
UnitedHealthcare Shared Services
UnitedHealthcare StudentResources
UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicare
UnitedHealthcare Complete Care (C-SNP)
Location
Virtual
My treatment methods
Narrative
Narrative counseling externalizes problems, viewing them as separate entities versus part of the person. For example, we can name mental health issues and talk about them as a part of your life, "Miss Anxiety feels much better when there is a plan of action."
Trauma Informed Care
I am careful with questions, comments, and feedback to ensure you are not re-traumatized in therapy sessions.
Solution Focused Brief Treatment
If you have specific issues to address, we can create goals and objectives with actions steps to help you get there.
8 ratings with written reviews
April 28, 2026
She is an amazing listener and is able to bring in fresh perspectives and understandings about whatever topic I bring up that can help me see it from a broader view, in an honest view that I hadn't considered. And so I appreciate big guidance when it comes to seeing the bigger picture in knowing what is mine to move and work through. And what is not mine to hold and work through.
Verified client, age 35-44
March 13, 2026
I’m so thankful for Shemaya!
Verified client, age 25-34
March 12, 2026
Always so understanding, supportive, and able to help me see the bigger picture and not just what is in front of me in the moment. Super inspirational and beautiful inside and out. Definitely a gem!