Leah Shanks , LPC-MHSP

Leah Shanks is a Tennessee-licensed counselor with 15 years of professional experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, eating and body image concerns, depression, relationship and family challenges, and other life transitions. As an LPC-MHSP - Licensed Professional Counselor, Mental Health Service Provider - she integrates Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), EMDR, mindfulness, and somatic techniques to tailor support to each person’s needs.

Leah frames the therapeutic process around the understanding that each individual is the expert of their own story and already holds strengths that can be mobilized to overcome difficulties. She works collaboratively with clients to address issues such as self-esteem, motivation, impulsivity related to ADHD, panic attacks, grief, parenting stress, compassion fatigue, and disordered eating behaviors. Taking the first step toward a more satisfying and balanced life often requires courage, and Leah provides steady, empathic guidance throughout that process.

Her practice emphasizes practical coping skills, values-based goal setting, and paced progress that respects each person’s experience. Leah aims to create a supportive environment where clients can build confidence, regain a sense of control, and move toward meaningful change on their own terms.

Therapeutic Approaches Offered Remotely

Leah Shanks draws on a blend of evidence-informed approaches to meet different needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors to reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and panic and to improve daily functioning. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-focused method that can help process disturbing memories and reduce their emotional impact, often used for post-traumatic stress and abuse-related symptoms. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a collaborative, nonjudgmental relationship in which the person’s own goals and strengths guide the work and foster self-directed growth.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Leah works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting strategies as progress unfolds so the work remains relevant and effective.

Online therapy with Leah is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These formats allow people to engage in therapy from their own environments, fit sessions into busy schedules, and continue consistent care even when in-person visits are not possible, while working with licensed professionals and experienced therapists to address their concerns.