Shannon Shaffer Peterson, LMFT
Calm, practical support for mood and life changes
About Shannon
Shannon Shaffer Peterson supports people facing low self-esteem, bipolar symptoms, depression, compassion fatigue, and the stress that comes with major life changes. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist - LMFT - practicing in California.
Background and approach
Shannon writes in a straightforward way and aims to make first steps feel manageable. She creates a calm space for people to talk about what worries them.
Sessions focus on what the person wants to change and small steps toward those goals. Shannon listens without judgment and helps sort through feelings and practical options.
Her work also addresses caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, loneliness, seasonal mood shifts, and social anxiety. She uses approaches that put the person’s experience at the center and help clarify motivation for change.
That makes therapy feel focused and relevant to daily life. Shannon brings 35 years of professional experience to her practice in California.
She aims to help people build confidence, cope with mood challenges, and find better ways to handle life transitions. The tone in sessions is steady, patient, and encouraging.
People who choose her can expect straightforward conversation, practical steps, and a collaborative plan. Shannon supports each person as they try new ways of coping and small experiments to see what works.
How Shannon’s Approaches Work Online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting what matters to the person. The therapist follows the client's lead, helps name feelings, and supports personal choices. This method often helps people who want clearer self-understanding and stronger self-worth.Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) looks at patterns in relationships and how emotions drive those patterns. In one or two sentences, it helps people notice how they react under stress and try new ways of connecting or coping. Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons to change, building motivation step by step rather than pushing advice.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Shannon will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and how they respond in early sessions. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as needed.
Online sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone meetings, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is helpful for face-to-face conversation, phone can be easier when bandwidth is low, and text options work well for short check-ins or ongoing support. These formats offer more flexibility for fitting therapy into busy days and different routines.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 35 years
- Licensed
- California
- Languages
- English