About Dawn
Dawn Shanklin is a licensed therapist based in Maryland who helps people facing stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, and depression. She focuses on practical support for coping with life changes and for managing compassion fatigue. Dawn aims to create a respectful, sensitive space where people can talk through what matters most to them.
She uses a mix of approaches to match each person's needs, drawing especially on client-centered work and cognitive behavioral ideas.
Background and approach
That means sessions often focus on understanding what a person is experiencing, then trying small, doable changes that reduce distress. Dawn keeps language simple and practical so families and individuals can follow the work between meetings. With 11 years of experience, Dawn brings steady, experienced support without jargon.
Her background includes an MD and mental health credentials listed as LCPC and LMHC. She uses those perspectives to guide clear treatment planning and realistic goals. Dawn often helps with communication problems, loneliness, struggles around purpose, financial stress, social anxiety, and workplace challenges.
She meets people where they are and works step by step toward improved daily functioning. Sessions are offered through video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules. To begin, a person completes a short matching questionnaire and schedules based on therapist availability.
Approaches and online care that fit your life
Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and understanding. The therapist follows a person's lead, reflects what matters, and helps clarify values and goals. This approach can help people feel heard and build confidence to try changes.Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and patterns and testing small behavior changes. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress management, and social anxiety by teaching practical skills people can use between sessions.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that match those goals, and adjust strategies based on what helps. Clients and the therapist work together to decide which techniques feel most useful over time.
Online therapy formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for more in-depth conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit on a work break or when less bandwidth is available. Live chat and text are helpful for brief check-ins, journaling between sessions, or when someone prefers typing. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule while using the approaches described above.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
Also works with
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 11 years
- Licensed
- Maryland, Massachusetts
- Languages
- English