Shannon Schaeffer, LMHC

Shannon Schaeffer is a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, low self-esteem, and depression. She focuses on practical ways to manage overwhelming feelings and build confidence. Shannon speaks English and brings ten years of experience to her work as an LMHC.

Shannon’s approach is straightforward and collaborative. She creates space for people to talk through what’s hard without judgment. Sessions tend to focus on skills you can try between meetings and on small steps that add up.

Shannon uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot unhelpful thinking patterns and change how they respond. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and build a life that feels meaningful, and on mindfulness techniques to reduce reactivity.

Her background includes a variety of settings over ten years, supporting people with chronic pain, body image concerns, addiction, relationship separation, and grief. She also addresses issues like guilt, shame, isolation, and midlife questions when they come up.

In sessions Shannon works with concrete goals and practical tools. She helps people practice new ways of coping and tracks progress together. The aim is clearer thinking, steadier mood, and more confidence in daily life.

How therapy approaches and online care fit together

Shannon commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in online sessions. CBT helps people identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and lift mood. ACT focuses on values and committed action, helping clients accept difficult feelings while moving toward meaningful goals.

She also incorporates mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity and build present-moment awareness. These approaches are chosen to match the person's goals rather than imposed. Deciding which method to use is a joint process built around what the client wants to work on and what feels most useful in real life.

Online therapy offers flexibility for people with busy schedules or mobility limits. Video calls allow for face-to-face conversation when a fuller interaction is helpful. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth or camera use is a concern. Live chat and text-based messaging let clients check in between sessions or use brief written check-ins on a tighter timeline. Licensed professionals can combine these formats to fit weekly routines, work breaks, or caregiving demands.