Shonta Thomas
Hello, my name is Shonta Thomas, and I'm absolutely excited to connect with you! I'm a Licensed Professional Counselor, a National Board-Certified Counselor, a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional-II and well trained in Crisis Intervention. I have a master's degree in both Community Counseling and Forensic Psychology.
I am a Licensed Professional Counselor, a National Board-Certified Counselor as well as a Certified Clinical Trauma Professional-II and well trained in Crisis Intervention.
I help mostly women and some men, navigate trauma, anxiety, depression, life transitions and stressors, and the pressure of always being the strong one. My approach is warm, honest, and practical, creating space for you to feel heard while developing tools to set boundaries, build confidence, and prioritize your well-being. I believe your mental health deserves care and attention. Together, we’ll work toward healing and a life that reflects your needs, values, and goals.
First session
Your first session is an opportunity for us to get to know each other and begin understanding what brings you to therapy. You do not need to prepare a perfect explanation or share your entire story. We will start wherever you feel comfortable. I will ask about your current concerns, relevant history, and what you hope to gain from counseling. We may explore how you have been feeling, what support you have, and how your experiences are affecting daily life. You can ask questions, share concerns about therapy, or let me know when something feels difficult to discuss. We will also review confidentiality and its limits, how sessions work, and what you can expect from our work together. Your preferences, comfort, and goals will help guide the process. By the end of our first session, my hope is that you feel heard, have a clearer understanding of the next steps, and can begin deciding whether working with me feels like a good fit. Together, we will identify initial priorities and, when helpful, discuss a practical strategy you can use between sessions. There is no pressure to have everything figured out. You can show up as you are, and we will take it one step at a time.
Strengths
I bring warmth, honesty, compassion, and a practical approach to every session. I understand that opening up to someone new can feel uncomfortable, especially when you are used to being the strong one. I create space for you to feel heard, respected, and supported without feeling pressured to share more than you are ready to explore. One of my greatest strengths is helping clients connect the dots between their experiences, emotions, and current patterns. Together, we explore how those patterns developed, what purpose they have served, and whether they still support the life you want. I ask thoughtful questions, offer honest feedback, and help you recognize strengths you may have overlooked. As a licensed therapist, Navy veteran, mother, and two-time breast cancer survivor, I bring professional knowledge alongside a personal understanding of resilience, uncertainty, and starting again. Those experiences deepen my empathy while reminding me that your story is uniquely yours. I approach our work with curiosity rather than assumptions. My style combines compassion with accountability. I will celebrate your progress while also gently challenging beliefs or behaviors that may be keeping you stuck. Our sessions can include practical tools for managing emotions, setting boundaries, communicating your needs, and responding to stress in ways that feel healthier and more intentional. I also welcome faith into our work when it matters to you, always guided by your preferences and comfort. What makes my approach stand out is the balance of genuine connection and purposeful action. We make room for difficult feelings while identifying manageable steps forward. My goal is for you to leave sessions with greater understanding, useful skills, and more confidence in your ability to make decisions that honor your needs, values, and goals. You deserve support that recognizes your whole experience and helps you move at your own pace.
Ideal clients
My ideal client is a woman who is used to being the strong one for everyone else but is ready to receive support herself. She may be balancing a career, family, relationships, and responsibilities while privately struggling with anxiety, depression, past trauma, self-doubt, or emotional exhaustion. She might find herself overthinking, putting her needs last, struggling to set boundaries, or repeating relationship patterns she wants to understand and change. She may also be navigating a major life transition, military experiences, or the emotional challenges of cancer survivorship. She does not need to have everything figured out or know exactly what to say. She may feel uncertain about therapy, and that is welcome, too. Our starting point is wherever she is. Together, we work toward understanding her experiences, developing practical coping skills, strengthening her voice, and making choices that reflect her needs and values. My practice is a good fit for someone seeking a compassionate, honest therapist who will honor her pace, celebrate her progress, and gently challenge her as she grows.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize CBT with clients by empowering them by helping them with taking an active role in their treatment process and develop necessary skills they can use long after therapy has ended.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy
I utilize mindfulness to help clients with becoming more aware of their thoughts, feelings and sensations in the present moment without judgment. In doing this, it helps clients develop a greater sense of calm, clarity and emotional regulation.
Solution-Focused Brief Treatment
I emphasize client strengths, resources, and goals, using techniques like miracle and scaling questions to foster hope, highlight exceptions, and create practical, achievable steps toward lasting change.
Location
Virtual sessions