SHONNIE LAVENDER (she/her/hers), Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Associate – Focusing on Individuals (age 14+), Couples, and Families
Availability Weekdays with daytime and limited late afternoon appointments. Primarily in person.
Accepting BCBS Insurance and Private Pay. Limited reduced-rate spots available (for members of Open Path).
I am Level 1 trained in Internal Family Systems (IFS) which can help people heal past wounds, decrease unwanted behaviors, strengthen their sense of Self, and increase internal peace. Along with IFS, I commonly use Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) as I find both of these approaches encourage self-attunement, emotional intelligence, true acceptance, and healthy attachment. I have a passion for working with mid-life women finding their own voice, moms seeking to lead their children without coercion or shame, couples seeking reconnection and joy, and anyone working to release themselves from perfectionism, judgment, or inherited but unwanted beliefs.
I entered the counseling field to add depth to the action-oriented “problem-solving” work I have done as a parent coach. I wanted to help individuals to heal the roots of issues, not only come up with solutions at the surface, so I enrolled at Western Carolina University. I graduated with my Master’s in clinical mental health counseling in 2022, having first completed over 240 hours of direct service in a community mental health agency providing school-based and outpatient therapy to children ages 7-18 as well as their families.
One of the most transformative acts I believe I can take is to build relationships in which people feel safe, seen, understood, and valued exactly as they are. This is at the heart of my counseling practice, not only because I believe it is every human’s birthright, but also because I believe that when we have that unconditional positive regard, our capacity to thrive is fully unlocked.
As a counselor, I view myself as a supporter and guide, providing scaffolding for my clients on their journeys of healing and change. This means that at first I may give more input or teach more skills, yet over time I entrust clients to have the self-awareness, knowledge, insight, and confidence to sustain the changes they’ve achieved. I am here for a time to walk alongside you, until you are ready to walk, run, dance, and soar on your own.
Though my own life experience and cultural markers (white, heterosexual, able-bodied, cisgender female) may differ from yours, I work diligently to treat all individuals with dignity and respect regardless of their race, gender, ability, class, language, spirituality, education, and sexual orientation. Personally, I have experienced numerous life challenges that help me relate to situations in which my client may find themselves, including:
- adoption (I was the adopted baby) and reunion (with my birth mom)
- divorce and blended families (I was one of the children of divorcing and remarrying families)
- early death of a parent (I was 21 when my mom died)
- terminal illness and sudden death of parents (my dad and step dad)
- cancer (I had a breast cancer diagnosis in 2019)
- long-term marriage (my husband and I wed in 1997)
- parenthood later in life (I was 38 when my daughter was born)
I have not walked in your shoes, yet my life experiences allow me to empathize with and relate to many of the challenges my clients face.
Finally, when I’m not trying to introduce myself professionally, I enjoy being playful, trail running, gardening, pickleball, savoring the natural beauty of our area, traveling, playing word games with my husband and tween, and using one of our many cats as weighted blankets.
Please click on the link below and schedule a free, 15-minute Exploratory Call to see how working with me may help you. You can also call or text (828) 761-3149.