Shawn Mcgivern, LMHC

Shawn Mcgivern is a licensed mental health counselor with 27 years of experience in Massachusetts. She focuses on helping people manage anxiety, depression, trauma and relationship struggles. Shawn uses practical therapy methods to help clients handle everyday problems and big life changes.

She works with people dealing with grief, eating and sleeping concerns, self-esteem problems, anger, and career stress. She also supports clients facing identity questions, intimacy-related issues, and challenges tied to adoption, attachment, or caregiving roles. LGBT concerns and relationship communication are part of her practice focus.

Shawn blends several approaches to fit each person's needs, including cognitive behavioral therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, attachment-based work, client-centered therapy, and dialectical behavior therapy. Sessions emphasize clear skills, emotion awareness, and real-world steps to feel better. The goal is to build coping tools that can be used outside the therapy hour.

Her style is collaborative and respectful. She helps people name patterns, set realistic goals, and practice new ways of responding to stress and conflict. Treatment plans are adjusted as progress is made.

Shawn also offers coaching-style support for life transitions and workplace challenges. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

CBT, ACT, and Attachment Work Online

Shawn commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes that reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms. CBT focuses on practical steps and experiments you can use between sessions.

She also draws on acceptance and commitment therapy, which helps people clarify values and take meaningful action even when strong emotions are present. Attachment-based work is used to identify relationship patterns and improve connection and communication with important people.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Shawn discusses options with each person and tailors techniques to their goals, preferences, and the problems they bring. That collaborative planning helps ensure the therapy fits day-to-day needs.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and skills practice. Phone sessions can fit a short break at work or where bandwidth is limited. Live chat and messaging support brief check-ins, goal reminders, and ongoing coaching between longer sessions.