(he/him)
New to Grow
Hello, my name is Shaun. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) with a passion for mental health that has guided my entire adult life. Growing up in rural Nebraska, I developed a strong appreciation for the challenges and resilience found in small-town communities. A few years ago, I made the move to Pennsylvania and returned to school to become a psychologist. My approach to counseling is rooted in my commitment to fostering a healthy lifestyle and work/life balance. Outside of my professional work, I serve as a fitness coach at a local gym, where I encourage others to prioritize their well-being. I firmly believe that physical and mental health are interconnected, and I strive to embody this principle in both my personal and professional life. In my downtime, I enjoy playing video games with friends, which allows me to unwind and connect with others in a relaxed environment. My wife and I share a love for the arts, and we frequently attend musicals that inspire and entertain us. As your counselor, I’m dedicated to creating a supportive and non-judgmental space where we can explore your unique experiences and challenges. Together, we can work towards achieving your goals and enhancing your overall well-being. I look forward to embarking on this journey with you.
Our first session will primarily focus on gathering information and will be quite different from future sessions. During this time, I will ask about the main concerns that brought you to counseling, as well as details about your current life and some aspects of your history. The session is structured, but I may have follow-up questions to gain a deeper understanding of your unique story, as I try to avoid making assumptions about anyone’s life. Some of the questions I ask might be challenging to answer, and I fully respect that. However, the more information you provide, the better I can assist you. I will also ensure that all intake consent forms and documentation are completed during this session. It's important for us to discuss the limits of confidentiality as well. Finally, I’d like to talk about what you are looking for in therapy and how we can shape our work together. This discussion is crucial to ensure that I meet your expectations before we dive into the therapeutic process in earnest during our second session.
I tend to have a more analytical approach to therapy. As a result, I am very intentional and goal-oriented, based on what we established in our first few sessions. I strive to be incredibly deliberate with what I contribute to therapy, as I think every good therapist should connect their contributions to making progress toward our established goals in some way or another. While I encourage clients to take the lead in discussions, I also take an active role in those conversations. As an existential therapist, I am perfectly comfortable sitting with uncomfortable emotions and experiences alongside clients. Sometimes those uncomfortable emotions can be complicated by the feeling that they aren't welcome, and that is a feeling I try to rally against. Your emotions are valid and welcome in the room, no matter how uncomfortable they may be to experience. By embracing these emotions, we are more able to process and resolve them.
My ideal client is open to self-exploration and willing to engage in the therapeutic process, even if unsure what that looks like. I pride myself on meeting individuals wherever they are in their journey, and I appreciate those who are ready to express their feelings and thoughts. Whether they are navigating personal challenges, seeking growth, or simply looking for a safe space to process their experiences, I am equipped to support them. My goal is to create a collaborative environment where clients feel comfortable and empowered to uncover their true selves.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy
When we have symptoms of anxiety or depression, there are often home patterns of unhelpful thinking that are also present with those feelings. I find REBT is an incredibly helpful approach to challenge and replace some of those thoughts with something that helps us overcome that cycle of anxiety or depression.
Existential
Other times, there are aspects of life that are anxiety-provoking, but are just a part of the human condition and don't really follow rationality in the same way. I've found a lot of success in wading through the messy parts of life, the things that are also necessary ingredients to living a happy and meaningful life, and helping clients feel their true emotions and find appreciation for the parts of existance that seem to make us human.