Shanna Kotin

Hi! I am a licensed marriage and family therapist with over eight years of clinical experience supporting women through periods of change, stress, and emotional overwhelm. My background includes extensive work in community mental health, as well as leadership and management roles supporting clinicians and complex cases. In addition to my clinical training, I bring prior professional experience in the tech industry as a UX Researcher, which gives me a deep understanding of the pressures faced by high-achieving professionals, particularly women navigating demanding careers.

I specialize in working with women who are experiencing major life transitions, including career changes, burnout, identity shifts, relationship stress, and navigating the mental load that comes with balancing work, family, and personal needs. Many of my clients feel stuck, exhausted, or disconnected from themselves and are seeking clarity, relief, and a greater sense of alignment in their lives. Therapy with me is a supportive, collaborative, and nonjudgmental space.

My approach to therapy is warm, collaborative, and evidence based. I believe therapy works best when clients feel truly seen, respected, and actively involved in the process. I draw from cognitive behavioral therapy, solution focused therapy, relational approaches, and psychodynamic principles, tailoring treatment to each client’s goals, values, and lived experience.

I help clients understand patterns, explore underlying emotional themes, and develop practical tools they can use outside of sessions. I balance insight with action, offering both reflection and concrete strategies to support meaningful change. My goal is to help clients build self awareness, strengthen coping skills, and move toward a life that feels more grounded, intentional, and fulfilling.

In the first session, clients can expect a calm, supportive conversation focused on understanding what is bringing them to therapy right now. We will talk about your concerns, relevant history, and what you hope to gain from therapy, while also addressing any questions you may have about the process. There is no pressure to share everything at once. We move at a pace that feels comfortable and respectful.

I also use the first session to begin identifying goals and to get a sense of what has or has not been helpful for you in the past. My intention is for clients to leave the first session feeling heard, understood, and clearer about next steps, as well as confident that therapy with me is a safe and supportive space for their work.