Shakera Snelling

Reaching out for help takes real courage — and the fact that you're reading this means you've already done the hardest part. It would be an honor to be part of your team from here.

I'm a dual board-certified psychiatric and family nurse practitioner offering both psychotherapy and medication management — often in the same 60-minute session, so you're never rushed through a quick med check. I specialize in anxiety, panic, depression, OCD, insomnia, and trauma, including complex and childhood trauma. I'm certified in CBT through the Beck Institute and trained in EMDR, ACT, and other evidence-based approaches.

My style is warm, collaborative, and practical. You're the expert on your life; I bring the clinical tools. Together we'll build a plan that fits you — and my ultimate goal is for you to develop the skills and self-understanding to become your own therapist.

You are not your diagnosis. I know you've heard that before — but I mean it, and my whole approach is built on it. A diagnosis is a starting point for our plan together, not a definition of who you are. You're far more complex, capable, and interesting than any label.

Here's how I see our roles: you're the expert on your own life — your story, your culture, your experiences. I bring the clinical training in psychotherapy and medication management. Neither works without the other, so we operate as a team. We'll explore what's really going on, figure out what matters most to you, and build toward change you can actually feel.

Sessions with me are warm but purposeful. I listen closely, I validate what you're carrying, and I'll also gently challenge you when growth calls for it. I draw from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and EMDR — always tailored to you, never one-size-fits-all. My ultimate goal? For you to walk away with the skills and self-understanding to become your own therapist.

First sessions can feel intimidating — so let me take the mystery out of it. We'll start wherever feels natural for you. I'll ask about what's bringing you in, what you've already tried, and what a better life would look like for you. You can share as much or as little as you're ready to; this is a conversation, not an interrogation.

By the end, we'll have the beginnings of a plan — whether that's therapy, medication, or both — and you'll have a say in every part of it. Most clients tell me they leave that first session feeling relieved, and often with something practical to try before we meet again. You don't have to have it all figured out before you arrive. Just show up as you are.