Shawna Pankonin, LPC

Shawna Pankonin is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Mississippi with 14 years of experience in the mental health field. She has developed a broad clinical background by working across many settings, including in-home care, residential level-of-care therapy, schools, youth court systems throughout the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, outpatient services, and a Child Advocacy Center. This variety of experience has exposed her to a wide range of clinical issues and populations, informing a flexible and informed therapeutic approach.

Shawna focuses much of her work on stress reduction, anxiety, depression, anger management, family conflict, parenting skills, relationship struggles, and complex trauma and abuse, while also supporting clients with a variety of other mental health disorders. Her commitment to the field grew from years spent working with children, adolescents, and families in state custody, as well as from close observation of how mental illness affected friends and family. Those experiences shaped her belief that access to the right support can reduce feelings of isolation and help people make meaningful changes in their lives.

Her clinical style is person-centered, holistic, and eclectic - beginning where each person is and tailoring treatment to individual needs. Shawna draws primarily on evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), mindfulness therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused counseling, and trauma-focused methods. She also integrates narrative and classical approaches when they fit the work. Shawna describes her manner as warm and supportive while remaining ready to address challenges directly; she values creativity in sessions so therapy can move in the directions necessary for each client to gain empowerment and control.

Shawna emphasizes collaboration and respects each person as the expert on their own life. She works with adults, adolescents, families, and caregivers on issues including relationship dynamics, grief, parenting, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, and areas related to adoption, foster care, blended families, and caregiver stress. Shawna is accepting new clients and also works with international clients by offering flexible session formats to meet diverse needs.