Shannon Pena, LCMHC

Shannon Pena is a licensed mental health professional in North Carolina who brings eight years of experience working with children, adolescents, and adults with disabilities, with a primary focus on young adults. She holds the credential Licensed Mental Health Counselor-Supervisor (LCMHC) and is also a Certified Rehabilitation Counselor - qualifications that reflect her training in clinical counseling and vocational rehabilitation. Shannon has extensive experience supporting individuals diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder, anxiety disorders, and ADHD, and she frequently addresses concerns related to stress, career transitions, relationship and family challenges, parenting, anger, and self-esteem.

Her clinical background spans adjustment and situational issues, mild mental health and developmental concerns, vocational and employment matters, and emotional, behavioral, and social difficulties. Shannon uses a person-centered, integrative approach that emphasizes each person’s unique circumstances when determining the best path forward. Goals are established collaboratively and worked toward across sessions, and she may occasionally assign homework to reinforce progress between meetings. Open and honest communication is encouraged to make the counseling process as productive as possible.

Client-Centered Care and Online Support

Shannon practices client-centered therapy, which focuses on understanding each person from their own perspective and providing a supportive, respectful environment to explore feelings and goals. This approach is especially helpful for issues like anxiety, self-esteem, relationship concerns, and adjustment to life changes because it emphasizes empathy and collaboration.

She also uses an integrative approach, drawing on different techniques to meet practical needs such as career challenges, parenting concerns, ADHD management, and vocational planning. Integrative work allows flexibility to address developmental, behavioral, and social issues in ways that match a client’s preferences and life situation.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the process, and Shannon works together with clients to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and personal style. Online therapy offers practical benefits for that work - video calls enable face-to-face connection, phone sessions provide convenience, and live chat or text-based messaging allow ongoing support between meetings. These options create flexibility for people balancing work, school, family, and other commitments while accessing licensed professionals and therapists who can adapt care to their schedules.