Shawn Pedani

I am a relational therapist. This means I don’t treat you like a diagnosis to be cured, and I don't sit back as an aloof expert. We work as equals. I believe that the relationship and trust we build together in our sessions is the actual tool we use to help you heal. My focus is to help you get to the root cause of your distress and heal the relational wounds that are keeping you stuck.

Our sessions will not be "all talk therapy." I do a lot of experiential, hands-on work with my clients. Over twenty years of practice in various treatment settings has taught me that we cannot just talk our way out of deep suffering. I use creative, experiential approaches to help you safely access, process, and heal the core wounds and complex trauma that impact your daily life, your parenting, and your relationships.

I specialize in treating complex trauma and OCD. I offer alternative, "bottom-up" evidence-based approaches to healing that are designed to be less clinical, rigid, or shaming than traditional methods. If you are struggling with OCD, we can look beyond standard ERP to find a path that respects your pacing and boundaries. My goal is to provide modern, effective treatment that helps you heal without making you feel like you are being tested or judged.

I often use experiential work with many of my clients (if it's appropriate and warranted!)- such as Internal Family Systems (IFS), which is a gentle and evidence-based way to help you get to know the different parts of yourself—like the inner critic, the anxious part, or the parts carrying old pain.

I also believe that creative expression can be a powerful tool for healing. When it fits, I bring in creative activities to help clients tap into feelings and insights that might be hard to reach with words alone. Whether it’s through art, writing, or other outlets, these approaches can open up new ways of understanding and moving forward.

In our first session together, we'll get to know each other as I take time to fully understand why you're hear and start thinking about ways I can help. You’re welcome to share as much or as little as you’d like about what’s bringing you to therapy- whether it’s something specific that’s been bothering you, ongoing challenges, or just a sense that things could be better.

We’ll spend some time getting to know each other and talking about what you hope to get out of therapy. I’ll ask a few questions to understand your background and what’s been going on for you, but there’s no rush or pressure to go deeper than you’re ready for.

If you’re interested in approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS), I’ll explain what that looks like and how it might help us explore your experiences in a safe and supportive way. We’ll go at a pace that feels right for you, and there’s no expectation to dive into anything before you’re ready. I'm also learning more experiential, modern therapy approaches which I weave in. But at the end of the day- they are just that: approaches. The important thing is having a genuine, caring relationship where you are feeling seen and heard.