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DS Portrait of Dawn Shanklin

Dawn Shanklin

Practical therapy for stress and anxiety

MD, LCPC, LMHC Maryland

Experience
11 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Self esteem, Depression
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Dawn

About Dawn

Dawn Shanklin is a licensed clinician practicing in Maryland who focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, and compassion fatigue. With 11 years of experience, she guides clients through life transitions and works to strengthen coping skills and confidence.

Background and approach

Dawn brings a respectful, sensitive, and compassionate presence to each encounter, creating space for practical problem solving alongside emotional support. Her approach blends evidence-based techniques with a client-centered stance, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and on person-focused methods to prioritize each individual's values and goals.

Dawn also attends to communication difficulties, workplace concerns, social anxiety, isolation, and issues related to money and life purpose. She aims to help people develop clear strategies for daily challenges while fostering personal insight and resilience.

Online Therapeutic Approaches and Practical Care



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often used to address anxiety, depression, stress management, and patterns that interfere with daily functioning by teaching concrete skills for coping and problem solving.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, acceptance, and collaboration. It supports people in exploring values and goals, strengthening self-understanding, and making decisions that fit their priorities.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist works with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences, and may combine techniques over time to refine the plan together.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility for accessing care through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options can make scheduling easier, support continuity during life transitions, and allow people to engage in therapy in ways that fit their routines and comfort levels.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Dawn commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, self-esteem difficulties, depression, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue, and also focuses on communication problems, isolation, life purpose, money issues, social anxiety and workplace concerns.
What is her therapeutic style and approach?
Dawn uses a client-centered stance alongside Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques to balance emotional validation with practical skill building for thinking and behavior patterns.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 11 years of professional experience supporting people through a range of life challenges and mood or anxiety-related concerns.
What credentials and location does she hold?
She is credentialed as MD, LCPC, LMHC with licence numbers MD LCPC LC15026 and MA LMHC LMHC9377, and she practices in Maryland.
Can non-English speakers access her services?
Sessions are offered in English only and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
Which session formats are available?
Clients may meet with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on scheduling and preferences.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietySelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Communication problemsIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMoney and financial issuesSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Experience

11+ years

Licensed

Maryland, Massachusetts

Languages

English