Licensed to practice in 2 states and accepts 9 insurances. Specializes in Anxiety, Life Transitions, Women's Issues
New to Grow
I'm Shanna Kotin, an LMFT with over 8 years of clinical experience. I specialize in working with women navigating anxiety, burnout, major life transitions, and relationship challenges. I offer virtual therapy sessions throughout California and understand the unique needs of women managing multiple roles and identities. My approach is warm, evidence-based, and grounded in the belief that therapy should help you feel more like yourself and figure out what the next chapter looks like for you. I'm particularly passionate about supporting women in tech and those navigating major life transitions, but I work with a wide range of women across different concerns and life stages. With over 8 years of focused experience working with women, I'm positioned to support those navigating major transitions, anxiety, perfectionism, relationship challenges, and identity shifts. My ideal clients are reflective, willing to try a different approach, and ready to build a relationship with themselves based on self-compassion rather than self-criticism. Whether you're a student navigating college or post-graduation, a high-achieving professional feeling overwhelmed, or anyone working through a significant life shift, I work well with clients ready to explore their patterns and create meaningful change."
Our first session is really about getting to know each other. I want to understand who you are, what brought you in, and what you're hoping to work on. There's no pressure to have everything figured out. In fact, sometimes people come to therapy not knowing exactly what needs attention, and that's completely okay. In our time together, I'll ask questions to learn about your background, what you're experiencing, and what matters most to you. I'll also share a bit about how I work and what you can expect from therapy. My goal in that first session is for you to feel heard and comfortable. Therapy works best when there's trust, so I'm focused on creating a space where you can be yourself and be honest about what's going on. We'll explore the areas you want to focus on, and together we'll figure out the best way forward.
I bring a combination of deep clinical experience and genuine understanding of what it means to navigate major life transitions. With over 8 years of practice, I've worked with many women through similar struggles and I know what actually creates change. I'm skilled at holding space for you to explore what's really going on beneath the surface. Rather than telling you what to do or what's wrong, I'm curious about your experience. I ask thoughtful questions that help you discover your own insights and understanding. There's something powerful about being truly heard and seen and that's what I strive to create in sessions. My background as a therapist, researcher, and someone who's lived through my own transitions means I understand both the clinical side and the human side. I can sit with complexity and help you make sense of what you're experiencing without rushing to fix it. I specialize in helping people explore the stories they've internalized and gently shift their relationship with themselves. That combination of genuine presence, curiosity, and compassion is what helps women actually feel understood and move forward, not just feel better in the moment, but create lasting change.
I'm best positioned to serve women who are struggling with the gap between who they think they 'should be' and who they actually are. My ideal clients often feel anxious, burnt out, or overwhelmed. Not because something is wrong with them, but because they've internalized the message that their worth comes from productivity, perfection, or taking care of everyone else. These are often women in demanding careers (especially tech), navigating major life transitions (career changes, relationship shifts, starting or graduating from school), or questioning their identity and what they actually want. They come to therapy ready to examine the patterns that got them here and willing to try a different approach, even if that feels uncomfortable at first. They do best with a therapist who gets the nuance: that ambition and drive aren't the problem, but the underlying belief that they're only worthy if they're 'enough' usually is. I work with clients who are ready to challenge perfectionism, set boundaries, and build a relationship with themselves based on self-compassion rather than self-criticism. I also work with clients who are looking for a ground space to figure out what the next chapter in their life looks like.
I identify as
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT in my practice to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. I help clients identify the unhelpful thought patterns that drive their stress, challenge those thoughts with evidence, and take small concrete actions to break the cycle. It's practical, collaborative, and grounded in what actually works.
Relational
I use relational therapy to help clients understand the patterns in their relationships, including their relationship with themselves. A lot of high-achieving women I work with grew up learning to be 'good' and productive to feel worthy. In sessions, I help them notice how that shows up: maybe they're hard on themselves, struggle to ask for help, or have difficulty setting boundaries. We explore where those patterns came from and how they're playing out now. The therapeutic relationship itself is part of the healing; experiencing someone who sees them as enough, not for what they produce. This helps them internalize a different message and relate to themselves with more compassion.