Shanae takes a Person-Centered and Humanistic approach to therapy, grounded in the belief that every individual brings a unique story, set of experiences, strengths, values, and capacity for growth into the therapeutic space. She believes clients are the experts on their own lived experiences and that therapy should honor the whole person rather than reducing someone to a diagnosis, symptom, or problem that needs to be “fixed.”

Shanae has a particular passion for working with adolescents and emerging adults, recognizing these as important periods of identity development, increasing independence, changing relationships, and discovering one’s place and purpose in the world. Her experience working with families and school systems has also shaped her understanding that a person’s well-being does not exist in isolation. Family relationships, culture, school, community, social environments, and other systems can all influence how a person understands themselves and navigates the world.

Central to Shanae’s approach is the therapeutic relationship. She strives to create a warm, safe, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel comfortable sharing their experiences, asking difficult questions, exploring different parts of themselves, and deciding what meaningful growth looks like for them. Rather than positioning herself as the person with all the answers, Shanae views therapy as a collaborative process in which curiosity, authenticity, and genuine human connection can create space for change.

Shanae also values holistic and multidisciplinary care. When appropriate, she welcomes collaboration with families, schools, healthcare providers, and other professionals while keeping the individual’s needs, values, experiences, and goals at the center of treatment. Ultimately, Shanae provides clients with a space where they feel genuinely seen, heard, and understood while developing the confidence to define who they are, discover what matters to them, and grow into the person they aspire to become.