About Shannon
Shannon Shaffer Peterson helps people facing low self-esteem, bipolar disorder, depression, and major life changes. She also supports those dealing with compassion fatigue, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, isolation, mood disorders, seasonal affective disorder, and social anxiety. Shannon is a California licensed marriage and family therapist with 35 years of experience.
She aims to make reaching out feel manageable and straightforward. Shannon uses a warm, listening approach. She creates space for clients to talk through worries and to find clearer direction.
How Shannon works
Sessions focus on understanding feelings, building motivation, and practicing small steps that lead to change. Her style is practical and person-focused. Conversations center on what matters to the client and what will be helpful right now.
Shannon leans on Client-Centered Therapy to follow each person’s pace and priorities. When emotions feel overwhelming, she uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy tools to look at patterns in relationships and attachment. For times when motivation is low, she brings Motivational Interviewing techniques to help people reconnect to their goals and values.
Shannon’s work is steady and experienced. She draws on decades of clinical time to guide people through transitions, mood struggles, and long-term stressors. The focus is on small, achievable change and on strengthening day-to-day coping skills.
Shannon lists 3 ways of working on the entry:
What Shannon works with
The areas below are the ones Shannon selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
Also listed
Training and background
| Register | LMFT |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 35 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | California |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches that translate well to online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy centers the client's own goals and pace. Online sessions allow the therapist to follow what matters most to the person and to build on strengths in short, regular conversations.Emotionally-Focused Therapy looks at emotional patterns and how they affect relationships and mood. In video or phone sessions this approach helps people notice recurring reactions and try new ways of responding.
Motivational Interviewing focuses on increasing motivation and commitment to change. It uses open questions and reflective listening to help people reconnect with their values and make realistic plans.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit best based on needs, goals, and preferences. Plans can be adjusted as progress is made so the approach grows with the client.
Online therapy offers flexibility and several formats to match daily life. Video calls provide face-to-face interaction for in-depth conversations. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a person prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, quick coaching, or when someone needs steady contact between longer sessions.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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