Shawna Pankonin , LPC

Shawna Pankonin is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) practicing in Mississippi with 14 years of experience in the mental health field. Her LPC credential indicates that she is a trained and licensed counselor qualified to provide therapeutic services within the state. Shawna has worked across diverse settings, including in-home therapy, residential level-of-care services, schools, youth court systems across the Gulf Coast of Mississippi, outpatient clinics, and a Child Advocacy Center, which has given her experience with a broad range of clinical issues.

She has particular experience helping people with stress reduction, anxiety, depression, anger management, family conflict, parenting skills, relationship conflict, and complex trauma and abuse, as well as a wide variety of other mental health concerns. Shawna’s commitment to the field grew from years of working with children, adolescents, and families in state custody and from observing how mental health struggles affect friends and family members. She recognizes how overwhelming it can be to seek help and how meaningful change can be when the right support is in place.

Shawna uses a person-centered, holistic, and eclectic approach, beginning where each person is and tailoring care to individual needs, beliefs, and lifestyle. She draws on evidence-based techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness practices, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused counseling, while also incorporating more classical approaches when helpful. Her style is warm and supportive while also being direct enough to tackle issues head-on. Shawna works collaboratively to establish goals and practical steps so clients can better understand their challenges and build confidence to move forward, emphasizing the importance of being heard, validated, and not alone.

Therapeutic Approaches Adapted for Online Care

Shawna integrates Client-Centered Therapy to create a supportive, nonjudgmental space where the individual’s perspective guides the work; this approach helps with relationship issues, self-esteem, and navigating family or identity concerns by honoring each person as the expert on their own life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, is used to identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors; it is often effective for anxiety, depression, stress, and mood regulation by providing practical skills and structured strategies. Mindfulness Therapy brings attention to present-moment experience through simple awareness practices, which can reduce reactivity and improve coping with stress, trauma symptoms, and emotional overwhelm.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative part of the process. Shawna will work with each person to determine which methods match their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques over time as progress and priorities evolve. The aim is to tailor care rather than force a single model onto every situation.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility for scheduling and participation. Sessions can take place by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, allowing people to access licensed professionals from different locations, fit therapy into busy routines, and maintain continuity of care even when life circumstances change.