Shawna Pankonin

Compassionate, skills-based counseling for life transitions

LPC Mississippi

Experience: 14 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Shawna

Shawna Pankonin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Mississippi who supports people coping with stress, anxiety, relationship difficulties, trauma and abuse, depression, and grief.

Background and approach

She also addresses parenting and family challenges, self-esteem and career concerns, bipolar mood issues, and a wide range of related matters such as adoption and foster care, blended family dynamics, caregiver stress, codependency, communication and commitment problems, and fertility or fatherhood issues.

Her counseling style is warm and collaborative, centered on the client’s experience and tailored to individual needs. Shawna blends client-centered principles with evidence-based practices, drawing on cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, narrative approaches, and solution-focused strategies to help clients develop practical skills, reframe unhelpful thinking, and build coping strategies.

She has 14 years of experience across homes, residential care, schools, youth court systems, outpatient settings, and a Child Advocacy Center along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, giving her broad exposure to diverse clinical situations. Shawna emphasizes partnership in the therapeutic process and sets realistic goals with clients, acknowledging that meaningful change takes time and effort.

Her work aims to validate client experiences while offering concrete tools and direction to increase confidence, reduce distress, and improve relationships and daily functioning.

Evidence-Informed Approaches and Online Access

Shawna commonly draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thought patterns and develop practical strategies for managing anxiety, depression, and stress. She also uses client-centered therapy to create a supportive, nonjudgmental environment where clients take the lead in defining goals and priorities. Mindfulness techniques are incorporated to help people increase present-moment awareness, reduce reactivity, and build regulation skills useful for trauma responses and everyday stress.

Finding the right approach is presented as a collaborative process. Shawna works with each person to determine which combination of methods fits their situation, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan over time as progress and needs evolve.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which can make it easier to fit counseling into busy schedules and to access support from different locations. These formats allow licensed professionals to share tools, practice skills, and maintain continuity of care while offering flexibility for clients balancing work, family, or other responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Shawna address in therapy?

She works with stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, trauma and abuse, depression, grief, parenting and family issues, self-esteem, career matters, and bipolar-related concerns, plus many related family and caregiving topics.

What is Shawna's therapeutic approach like?

Her approach is client-centered and collaborative, using a mix of evidence-based methods such as cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, narrative work, and solution-focused strategies to meet each client's needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Shawna brings 14 years of experience working in homes, residential care, schools, youth court systems, outpatient settings, and a Child Advocacy Center along the Gulf Coast of Mississippi.

What are her credentials and where is she based?

She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with the designation MS LPC 1841 and practices from Mississippi.

Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?

She accepts international clients and provides services for English-speaking individuals regardless of their location.

Which session formats are available?

Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are fees and payment organized?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What is the process to begin working with Shawna?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuse Depression

Also works with

LGBTFamily conflictsGriefParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorder

Additional focus areas

Adoption and foster careBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDependent personalityDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesGuilt and shame ImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPostpartum depressionPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaVisually impairedWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

14+ years

Licensed

Mississippi

Languages

English