shannon’s story

Hello!  I’m Shannon.  I’m a Clinical Supervisor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist.  

I have loved living in Portland for over a decade.  I grew up in Memphis, TN, often visiting family in Kentucky, and I spent my early adulthood in Nashville, TN.  My transition to the west coast after growing up in the south expanded my understanding of how the messages we receive from friends, family, community, and society have an influence on how we view the world. 

As a kid that heard “you ask too many questions”, my adult self loves that therapy is a profession.  I am curious about people and I love to provide a place for clients to tell their story in a way that feels authentic.   It is my intention to support clients in discovering the story of how mental health, relationships, and social systems influence their lives - and what to do about it!  I believe we are the experts in our own lives and that clients can identify solutions that will support them in living a life that feels sustainable. 

I am passionate about working with adult and teen families, partnerships, and individuals dealing with issues related to perinatal/postpartum mental health, parenting young children, life transitions, grief and loss, ADHD, and intergenerational trauma. I identify as queer and love working with clients on the LGBTQIA+ spectrum.

Outside of the office you can find me vying for the affection of a seven-year-old child and a rescue great pyrenees.   When I’m not parenting a human or fur being with my partner, I’ll be creating art, playing accordion, and spending time outdoors.  

Professional Stuff: 

I received a Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Lifespan Development from Middle Tennessee State University.  I completed graduate training at Lewis and Clark College, attaining a Master of Arts degree in Marriage Couple and Family Therapy with a specialization in sex therapy. I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (License #T1582).  

I have gained a breadth of experiences working with nonprofits serving child, adult, and family mental health needs.  During my time as a child and family therapist, I’ve worked in the community and schools providing individual, group, and family therapy as well as consultation and case management for children and their social supports.  With additional experiences in youth group homes, adult mental health case management, and secure children’s inpatient, I’ve supported clients with a wide variety of treatment issues. 

My therapy style is collaborative, working with clients to support them in identifying how they want their lives to feel different.  My work centers on attending to relationships, systemic power structures, and intergenerational patterns that affect how we relate to others and understand our world.  I use narrative, strategic, and emotionally focused interventions to interrupt patterns, support secure attachment, and identify internal and external strengths clients can utilize to make changes to benefit their lives.  

I have been formally trained in the theory and implementation of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavioral therapy (DBT), collaborative problem solving (CPS), trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT), narrative therapy, symbolic experiential therapy, emotionally focused therapy (EFT), Exposure Response Prevention (ERP), transformative family therapy, and structural-strategic family therapy.  

I am an Approved Supervisor for the Oregon Board of Licensed Professional Counselors and Therapists (OBLPCT) and am available to provide clinical supervision for MFT and PC registered associates seeking licensure.  As a clinical supervisor, I utilize a collaborative developmental supervision model centering around the supervisee’s lens and therapeutic model.  My focus is to provide feedback and support to facilitate your growth toward autonomy as a clinician.  

I also serve as VP of Clinical Operations and Clinical Director here at Sprout, where I supervise clinical training and continuing education, compliance, supervision of supervision, and client care.

Currently, I am not taking on new clients or supervisees. To be connected with a clinician, please book a screener with our Intake Coordinator.

See our fees and insurance page to determine if Shannon is in network with your insurance plan.

You can reach Shannon directly at shannon@sprouttherapypdx.com