Shannon Baranowski MS, LMHC

Sometimes life can look fine from the outside while things feel very different on the inside. You may be managing work, relationships, family, parenting, and all the responsibilities of everyday life while quietly feeling overwhelmed, stretched thin, or disconnected from yourself. Or maybe something has changed, you feel stuck, or you simply know that something isn’t working anymore but aren’t quite sure where to begin. I am here to help. I enjoy working with older teens and adults navigating anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, relationship or parenting stress, life transitions, and other challenges that can make it difficult to feel like yourself. I especially enjoy supporting people who feel pulled in many directions or have lost sight of their own needs while caring for others and managing the demands of life. I have been working as a mental health therapist for more than 10 years and have worked with people from many different backgrounds and walks of life across residential, inpatient, and outpatient settings. These experiences have taught me to look beyond symptoms and understand what you're experiencing within the bigger context of your life. I draw from several evidence-based approaches depending on your needs and goals, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Internal Family Systems (IFS), and trauma-focused approaches. I am also an EMDR Certified Therapist and can incorporate EMDR when appropriate for clients interested in trauma-focused work. I believe the relationship you have with your therapist matters. My goal is for therapy to feel comfortable and genuine while also being thoughtful and purposeful. You don't need to have the right words or know exactly what you want to work on before getting started. We'll begin wherever you are. I'll listen, ask questions, offer perspective, and help you better understand yourself while building on your strengths and developing practical tools for moving forward. Most importantly, I want you to feel like you can show up as yourself without pressure to have everything figured out. Outside of therapy, I'm usually listening to music, laughing along to a comedy podcast, running or exercising, or spending time in the backyard with my husband, our three full-of-life children, and our laid-back dog, Nash. Credentials Bachelor of Arts in Communicative Disorders, University of Wisconsin–Madison Master of Science in Rehabilitation Psychology, University of Wisconsin–Madison Licensed Mental Health Counselor, State of Iowa EMDR Certified Therapist