Shackola Symons
I have been described by patients as very patient, warm, compassionate, resourceful and bubbly. I am gentle, yet firm. I am someone who will challenge and hold you accountable with compassion and humor. I believe in the power of connectedness and the importance of being seen as a person.
I love to provide relevant resources and tools that can truly impact your life outside of session.
I hope to provide that space for an individual to exist authentically and to truly find ways to heal from past and present traumas and painful experiences. Ultimately, you are the expert in your life... I am here to aid in facilitating your desired growth.
First session
First sessions are typically an opportunity to build rapport and to gather information on who you are and how you show up in your world. There will be no pressure to share more than you are ready to. It is an opportunity to assess your presenting concerns, goals for therapy and for you to also gauge your level of comfort in sharing and possibly working with me.
Strengths
My ability to synthesize information and aid a client in bridging the gaps in their lives. I bring who I am to session in the same way I allow you to exist authentically as well. I am intentional in our work, while still being personable and humorous. I have been told that I have the memory of an elephant from previous clients. I love to provide relevant resources and tools that can truly impact your life outside of session. What are we doing if not working towards enhanced understanding, compassion and enacting change?
Ideal clients
Whoever desires help. People at crossroads in their lives, those who have experienced acute and chronic challenges and stressors and those who desire a deeper understanding of self. In essence, my ideal client is someone who has made the courageous decision to create space for their experiences and emotions and who sets an intention around working through their challenges.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
There is a connection between our thoughts and the impact on our emotions and vice-versa. In our time together we will be able to make connections between our thoughts and feelings both while in therapy and during your lived experiences outside of therapy. The goal is to be more intentional in how you manage your inner world and to feel empowered around the ability to enact change within your life.
Psychoeducation
I believe it is important to educate patients on the factors contributing to the challenges faced, this enhances an individual's ability to self-advocate as well as promotes self-acceptance. In utilizing psychoeducation, sessions focused on skills building.
Strength-Based
Let's focus on the things you have done well so that we can enhance your self-confidence as well as affirm positive aspects of self and experiences. This aids in the ability to reflect on experiences and self-assessment in a different way.
Trauma-Informed Care
Being trauma informed impacts my approach and level of awareness around individual traumas and working through some of those issues in a way that is not re-traumatizing.
Grief Therapy
Loss is an integral part of life and although we often focus on loss through death and dying, we have often lost intangible things in our lives as well. We work on the capacity to cope with and effectively manage the losses experienced.
Location
Virtual sessions
Identifies as
Top specialties
Other specialties
Serves
Licensed in
- New YorkLicense 006456