Shanae Gardner

I work with teens and adults who are carrying more than anyone around them realizes. They're the capable ones, the ones people lean on, and they've gotten good at functioning while quietly running on empty. If that sounds like you, you're in the right place. I've spent nearly a decade helping people understand why they stay stuck, rebuild their sense of self after loss or burnout, and create lives that actually feel livable. I'm a licensed clinical social worker in both Virginia and Maryland, and I bring a culturally grounded, trauma-informed perspective to every

client I work with. Being a Black woman in this field means I understand firsthand why finding a therapist who really sees you matters.

My approach is collaborative, direct, and rooted in who you actually are, not a one-size-fits-all framework. We'll work together to identify the patterns driving your stress, anxiety, or grief, and we'll build on your existing strengths rather than starting from scratch. I draw on Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Motivational Interviewing, and Behavioral Activation, adapted to fit your pace and goals. I'm not here to hand you a coping skills list and call it therapy. I'm here to help you go deeper, with honesty, care, and cultural awareness. If faith is part of your life, that's welcome here too.

Your first session is a real conversation, not a checklist. I'll ask about your life, what brought you to therapy, and what you're hoping changes. You'll also get a sense of how I think and work, so you can decide if we're a good match. I want you to leave that first session with more clarity than you came in with, even if everything isn't figured out yet. We'll set some early goals together and start laying the groundwork for actual, lasting change, not just relief that disappears between sessions.