Shawna Pankonin is a licensed professional counselor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship struggles, trauma and parenting challenges.
01About Shawna
Shawna Pankonin is a licensed professional counselor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship struggles, trauma and parenting challenges. She draws on 14 years of experience in mental health and aims to make therapy straightforward and practical for busy lives. Shawna speaks plainly and focuses on small, achievable steps that build confidence over time.
Her approach centers on listening first. She treats each person as the expert on their own life and adapts sessions to individual needs.
Background and approach
Sessions often include skills practice, goal setting, and ways to reduce symptoms between meetings. Shawna has worked in homes, residential care, schools, youth court systems, outpatient clinics, and a Child Advocacy Center across the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. That range gave her experience with a wide variety of clinical issues and ages.
She has particular experience with complex trauma and abuse, family conflict, and parenting skills. In session she mixes practical tools with reflective conversation. She uses techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, narrative work, and solution-focused methods to help people change thoughts, feel calmer, and make different choices.
She describes her style as warm and supportive but direct when it’s helpful. Her goal is to help clients make steady, realistic progress. She will work with each person to set clear goals and small steps.
Shawna emphasizes that change takes time and effort, and she commits to walking alongside clients as they practice new ways of coping and relating.
02Credentials
- LPC (Mississippi)
- License 1841 · expires June 2026
- NPI
- 1568949139 · national provider identifier
Both are public records. A state board register will confirm a license and its standing, and the national registry will confirm an NPI. This directory copies what the counselor lists and checks neither.
03Focus areas and approaches
Everything Shawna lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Adoption and foster care
- Blended family issues
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Polyamory / non-monogamous relationships
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Visually impaired
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Methods Shawna names
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
These are the methods Shawna names on their own professional profile. Naming an approach is not evidence of training or certification in it, and this directory checks no training records. Ask directly if it matters to you.
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04Online support
How Shawna’s Approaches Work Online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding what matters most to the client, helping the therapist tailor sessions to individual priorities and strengths. This approach is useful for people who want a collaborative space to make sense of their history and current struggles.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches practical ways to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It often involves short exercises and homework that help reduce anxiety, depression, and stress through clear, step-by-step strategies.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, then try methods that fit. This is a collaborative process and adjustments are made as progress is tracked.
Online formats offer flexibility for different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for deeper conversation and skill coaching. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief check-ins, coping prompts, or when a shorter, written format fits a busy day. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent while fitting work, family, and other commitments.
05Questions people ask
What kinds of concerns does Shawna address?
She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship challenges, trauma and parenting issues, plus concerns such as self-esteem, career strain, and bipolar-related struggles.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Shawna uses a warm, supportive approach while also focusing on practical steps. Sessions mix listening, goal setting, and skill practice to create clear, achievable plans.
What is her clinical background?
She has 14 years of experience working in homes, residential care, schools, youth court settings, outpatient services, and a Child Advocacy Center across the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
She holds an MS and is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Mississippi.
Can sessions be conducted in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
Which session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match different needs and schedules.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.
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