Therapist Shana Williams-Leary Photo

Shana Williams-Leary, LCSW

Stress, Anxiety Family conflicts Trauma, Abuse Grief Depression
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker that has worked over the course of 19 years in both inpatient Crisis and outpatient counseling settings with individuals, couples and families, ages 4 y.o. to 85 y.o. in Florida, Utah, Maine, Arizona, and several other countries. I am very versatile in my approach, tending to begin where you, the client are first, then tailoring my interventions from that point on. My specialty is in working with PTSD, i.e. abuse , and primary and secondary traumas, and have advanced training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, including the Flash Technique. I have also frequently worked with the Chronically Mentally Ill person, including those with Schizophrenia, Bipolar, Dissociative issues, and Depression, as well as those in various Life Transitional stages, Ex Pats, HSPs, and Developmental delays. I have also counseled a few individuals with up to middle stage Dementia (since newer Rx leaves them with tremendous adjustment issues) and their caregivers and parents struggling with parenting issues. My highest comfort level is with ages 18 and over in Individual sessions.

My counseling style is ecclectic, with a warmth of engagement and focus on acceptance, positive regard, and trust-building, but can be highly solution-focused and brief as needed in the course of your therapy. I use a Motivational Interviewing technique to identify both what it is the client truly desires, as well as what they do not want, or are not motivated to achieve, and why. I then will shift to a more Strengths-based and Skill-building approach and the use of Cognitive-Behavioral and Humanistic interventions with a Family Systems and Developmental perspective on relational issues.

I have done my own personal counseling work, and recognize it to be a powerful, yet courageous endeavor in a person's life. Good therapy can transform you and it is a gift to be able to engage in it. Every person is precious, and deserving of respect, kindness, and a place to be fully heard, accepted, and a place to develop their best selves in a healing, compassionate environment. I consider my work as a therapist to be a sacred trust, a privilege, a calling, and part of my own journey as a fellow human being.

Working with you will be an honor to help you on your very unique path toward a healthier you, and in the style you determine to be the most helpful and supportive.

Professional experience

19yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Family conflicts Trauma, Abuse Grief Depression

Additional areas of focus: Addictions, LGBT, Relationship issues, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Coping with life changes, Compassion fatigue, ADHD, Abandonment, Aging and Geriatric Issues, Autism and Asperger Syndrome, Avoidant Personality, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain illness and disability, Co-morbidity, Codependency, Commitment Issues, Communication problems, Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Family of Origin Issues, Family Problems, First Responder Issues, Forgiveness, Gender Dysphoria, Guilt and shame, Hearing Impaired, HIV / AIDS, Hospice and End of Life Counseling, Immigration Issues, Impulsivity, Infidelity, Isolation / loneliness, Jealousy, Life purpose, Midlife crisis, Military and Veterans Issues, Mood disorders , Multicultural Concerns, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Paranoia, Postpartum Depression, Post-traumatic stress, Pregnancy and childbirth, Prejudice and Discrimination, Self-Harm, Self-love, Sexual Assault and Abuse, Social anxiety and phobia, Somatization, Traumatic Brain Injury, Women's issues, Young Adult Issues

Clinical approaches: Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

License information

UT LCSW 12996356-3501

ME LCSW LC21573

AZ LCSW LCSW-22157

FL LCSW SW7878

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Shana Williams-Leary. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

I really like how compassionate and understanding she is she’s very kind and listens to me and gives me advise i would absolutely recommend her

Written on Jul 26, 2024 after therapy with Shana for 5 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating disorders, sleeping disorders, parenting issues, self esteem, coping with life changes, and coaching

Shana is 100% dedicated to helping

Written on Feb 12, 2024 after therapy with Shana for 1 month on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, relationship issues, trauma and abuse, intimacy-related issues, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Great therapist

Written on Jan 29, 2024 after therapy with Shana for 1 year and 6 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, anger management, and compassion fatigue

Shana has helped me more than I can even put into words. I’ve had such a positive experience working with her. She’s respectful of my concerns and considerately addresses issues that I wasn’t even aware of. I’m thankful for her and BetterHelp for helping me become the person I want to be.

Written on Jan 01, 2024 after therapy with Shana for 1 year and 3 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, self esteem, and coping with life changes

Shana is wonderful! She is knowledgeable, caring, compassionate, responsive, timely, professional, warm, and supportive!

Written on Nov 01, 2023 after therapy with Shana for 3 months

Shana is knowledgeable and caring. She’s great at providing me with the tools to help myself while also providing alternative perspectives to how I view situations and circumstances.

Written on Oct 23, 2023 after therapy with Shana for 2 months on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, sleeping disorders, and self esteem