Shawna Chandler, LCSW

Shawna Chandler is a licensed clinical social worker in California who helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, trauma and abuse, low self-esteem, and depression. She speaks English and brings two decades of professional experience to sessions. Shawna aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space so people can talk about what matters to them and begin making small changes.

She uses practical talking and evidence-informed strategies to help people manage symptoms and make decisions that fit their lives. Sessions often focus on improving daily coping skills, strengthening communication, and building confidence step by step. Shawna also addresses related concerns such as abandonment issues, caregiver stress, and challenges tied to aging and geriatric issues.

Her approach blends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, cognitive behavioral techniques, client-centered listening, and skills from dialectical behavior therapy. Shawna also integrates eye movement desensitization and reprocessing when trauma work is appropriate and agreed upon. She adapts methods to the person in front of her rather than following a one-size-fits-all plan.

People who choose Shawna can expect a supportive guide who emphasizes practical tools and steady progress. She invites clients to name goals and to try doable steps between sessions. Her aim is to help people feel more capable of handling life’s stresses and relationships.

Shawna’s practice is based in California and reflects 20 years of clinical work. Prospective clients should confirm current session formats and scheduling details before booking.

How her approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that match their values. In practice that means naming what matters, trying small behavior changes, and building tolerance for hard feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches concrete tools to change patterns that cause distress. These tools are useful for anxiety, depression, and relationship stress. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is a trauma-focused method used when trauma memories are impacting daily life; it involves structured processing of distressing memories with the therapist guiding the pace.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist and client discuss goals, preferences, and the problem at hand, then decide collaboratively what methods to try. The plan can change as progress is made or as priorities shift.

Confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week and to meet without travel time. It can also allow shorter check-ins when you need a quick support moment or reduce the need to be on camera if that feels easier. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, or trauma-focused work to remote sessions while tailoring pacing and homework to fit everyday life.