Shannon Bolander (She/her)

I am trained through Level 3 (of 4) with the Gottman Institute. The Gottman Method is a heavily researched and proven method of couples therapy, pioneered by specialists Drs. John and Julie Gottman. The Gottman Method is well known and renowned within the field of Counseling.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy teaches clients to notice their own inner dialogue, along with faulty thinking that leads us to feel depressed, anxious, etc. Once faulty thinking is identified, we can practice "thought stopping", as well as replacing faulty thinking with thoughts that serve us better.

In addition to being a member of the community myself, I have studied, researched, and received additional training hours on various specific concerns including those of the trans community, LGBT relationships, coming out as LGBT, building LGBT families, and the impacts of discrimination.

In addition to being a member of the community myself, I have studied, researched, and received additional training hours on various specific concerns including those of the trans community, LGBT relationships, coming out as LGBT, building LGBT families, and the impacts of discrimination. I am a member of SAIGE (Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive identities).

I have trained through Level 3 with the highly respected Gottman Institute for Couples Research. The Gottman Institute is well known in the field of counseling for their decades of research on what makes relationships work.

I find that anxiety is a common problem with clients, and the treatment of anxiety can require knowledge of a wide range of techniques, from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Family Systems, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness training, to knowledge on treating trauma. While anxiety symptoms may look similar from client to client, underlying factors can vary widely. I find a compassionate approach that focuses on the alliance between client and therapist to work best.

In addition to being a member of the community myself, I have studied, researched, and received additional training hours on various specific concerns including those of the trans community, LGBT relationships, coming out as LGBT, building LGBT families, sexual concerns, LGBT specific trauma, and the impacts of discrimination. I am a member of SAIGE (Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, and Gender Expansive identities).

I have trained through Level 3 with the highly respected Gottman Institute for Couples Research. The Gottman Institute is well known in the field of counseling for their decades of research on what makes relationships work. I have had success in applying Gottman research, treatment, and principles in both couples and individual therapy.

I often find with couples that it is a lack of understanding or misinterpretation of each other's (or even our own!) emotional state, which leads to the majority of conflict. Understanding the emotions behind many of our choices and reactions to partners makes Emotion Focused techniques a wonderful supplement to my work as a Gottman-focused therapist with couples.