(she/her)
New to Grow
Hi, I’m Dr. Shamanda Burston, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Addictions Specialist. I specialize in working with teens and adolescents who may be feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or struggling with the pressures of school, relationships, and growing up. Today’s teens are navigating a lot—academic pressure, social expectations, identity development, and constant comparison through social media. These challenges can show up as anxiety, mood changes, irritability, withdrawal, or difficulty coping.
Our first session is focused on helping you feel comfortable, heard, and supported. We’ll talk about what brought you to therapy, what you’re currently struggling with, and what you hope to gain from counseling. I provide a safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental space where teens can be themselves and talk openly about what they’re experiencing. My approach is warm, direct, and practical, helping teens build emotional awareness, confidence, and healthy coping skills they can use in everyday life.
One of my greatest strengths is helping clients make sense of overwhelm. I’m skilled at identifying patterns related to anxiety, burnout, people-pleasing, and overfunctioning, and translating those insights into actionable tools. Clients often describe my approach as grounding, validating, and goal-oriented. I create a therapeutic space that is structured yet flexible—supportive without being passive—so clients feel both emotionally safe and empowered to change. For parents, I understand how important it is to know your child is supported. I focus on building trust with teens while helping them develop the tools they need to manage stress, improve communication, and navigate challenges both now and in the future. If your teen is struggling and needs additional support, I’m here to help. Specialties: Adolescents (13–17) Young Adult (18-21) Anxiety Depression School Issues Family Conflict Self-Esteem Stress
I am best positioned to support teens and adolescents who are feeling overwhelmed by anxiety, stress, and the pressures of school, relationships, and growing up. Many of the clients I work with are high-functioning on the outside but struggling internally with self-doubt, emotional overwhelm, or difficulty coping with expectations. I also work well with teens navigating identity development, low self-esteem, social challenges, and major life transitions. This includes those dealing with academic pressure, family conflict, or changes that impact their sense of stability and confidence. My experience as a school-based mental health therapist and pediatric psychotherapist in a hospital setting allows me to understand the unique challenges teens face across both academic and clinical environments. I bring a well-rounded, practical approach to supporting adolescents in real-world situations. In therapy, I help teens build emotional awareness, develop healthy coping skills, improve communication, and strengthen their sense of self. My goal is to support them in feeling more confident, regulated, and equipped to handle challenges both now and in the future.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Using this treatment method, I will address the connection between the patient's thoughts, feelings and behaviors.