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SS Portrait of Shakina Small

Shakina Small

Compassionate clinician using practical therapies

LPC Pennsylvania

Experience
26 years in practice
Focus areas
Relationship, Family, Trauma and abuse
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Shakina

About Shakina

Shakina Small is an LPC with 26 years of clinical experience who blends practical, evidence-informed methods with a warm, client-centered presence.

Background and approach

She often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thinking patterns and develop concrete strategies for change, while also using approaches that attend to emotion, relationships, and meaning. Her work emphasizes respectful collaboration and straightforward guidance when needed.

Shakina has supported people facing a wide range of concerns including relationship and family challenges, trauma and abuse, substance-related issues, intimacy and parenting struggles, mood concerns such as bipolar disorder, and life transitions. She also addresses focused topics like abandonment, adoption and foster care issues, attachment difficulties, blended family dynamics, and communication or control problems.

Her practice integrates multiple approaches to meet each person where they are and to foster practical coping skills alongside deeper emotional work.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Shakina often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through practical exercises and skills practice, which can be easily adapted to remote sessions. She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where a client's own goals and pace guide the work. When emotions and relationship patterns are central, elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy help build distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness in everyday life.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process; the therapist works with each person to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and concerns. That exploration may involve trying specific techniques, tracking what helps, and adjusting the plan over time to stay aligned with progress and changing needs.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging so clients can access care from home or while managing busy schedules. These options make it easier to maintain regular contact, practice skills between sessions, and shape therapy around work, family, and other commitments.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does this therapist commonly address?
Areas of focus include relationship and family difficulties, trauma and abuse, addictions, intimacy-related concerns, parenting and anger, career issues, bipolar disorder, coping with life changes, ADHD, and related topics such as abandonment and adoption issues.
What therapeutic styles are used in sessions?
The approach combines client-centered work with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Existential Therapy, and motivational techniques tailored to each person's needs.
How long has this clinician been practicing?
She brings 26 years of experience as a psychotherapist and counselor in a variety of settings supporting diverse concerns and life challenges.
Where is the therapist based and what are the professional credentials?
The clinician is licensed in Pennsylvania and holds the LPC credential with license number PA LPC PC016304.
Which languages are available for sessions and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are conducted in English, and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are offered for online work?
Clients can arrange video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit their preferences and schedules.
How are fees handled for sessions?
Cost varies depending on location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that may be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
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

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseSelf esteem

Also works with

AddictionsIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMoney and financial issuesMood disordersPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveSex addictionSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMotivational InterviewingPsychodynamic TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

26+ years

Licensed

Pennsylvania

Languages

English