Shakina Small

Shakina Small, LPC, offers a straightforward, person-centered approach to counseling. She combines practical tools with empathic listening to help people manage anger, relationship strain, parenting stress, and other life challenges.

With 26 years of experience, she draws on multiple approaches to match each person’s needs. Sessions focus on clear goals, learning new skills, and understanding how past hurts affect present behavior. The tone is warm and direct, and she uses teaching, writing, and creative exercises when helpful.

Her background includes work in a wide range of settings, including schools, residential programs, foster care, inpatient and outpatient environments, and community organizations. She has supported people who have experienced sexual, emotional, and physical trauma as well as those navigating addiction, bipolar disorder, and ADHD-related concerns.

Shakina emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and honest feedback delivered with care. She aims to help people identify patterns that keep them stuck and build practical strategies to change those patterns. Many sessions include skill practice and concrete steps to improve communication, manage strong feelings, and repair relationships.

People who choose her can expect a counselor who blends evidence-informed methods with creative exercises and faith-informed values when requested. She invites prospective clients to consider what matters most to them and to begin by completing the site's initial matching steps.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Shakina uses client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to guide sessions. Client-centered work focuses on listening and reflecting so people feel heard and can explore feelings at their own pace. Cognitive behavioral therapy offers concrete tools for changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which is useful for anger, anxiety, and mood challenges.

She also incorporates dialectical behavior therapy skills for emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness when appropriate. Together these approaches help people build new skills and understand how past experiences shape current reactions. Choosing the right mix is a collaborative process and she will work with each person to find what fits their goals and preferences.

Practical benefits of online work include easier scheduling and the ability to fit sessions into a busy life. Online sessions can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and make follow-up practice easier between meetings. Because session formats were not specified in the biography, confirm the available options before booking so you know how sessions will be arranged.