Shannon Hartman , LCSW

Shannon Hartman is a California licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 15 years of experience. She works with people who are feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, grief, depression, or big life changes. Shannon emphasizes strengths and helps clients find practical steps forward.

Her style is direct and compassionate. Sessions focus on clear goals and small, manageable changes. She treats concerns like compassion fatigue, addictions, relationship and intimacy questions, sleep problems, anger, and low self-esteem in straightforward language.

Shannon uses a mix of approaches to meet each person where they are. She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to spot unhelpful thoughts and ACT ideas to help clients act in line with their values. Attachment-based work is used when patterns from past relationships affect current life.

Her additional focus areas include caregiver stress, communication problems, control issues, divorce and separation, first responder issues, and mood disorders. She also supports people coping with HIV/AIDS, end-of-life concerns, and the emotional fallout of loss and abandonment.

Shannon believes clients are the experts in their stories and builds on existing strengths. She aims to make therapy practical and understandable so people can apply what they learn between sessions. The tone in session is respectful, grounded, and focused on forward movement.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters to them and take value-driven actions despite difficult thoughts or feelings, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors through concrete exercises and homework that translate well to remote sessions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns affect current connections and helps people change repetitive interaction styles that cause pain.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has or has not helped in the past. Together they decide which methods to use and adjust the plan as progress is made, making the process collaborative and practical.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face discussion and visual cues. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in fits a busy day. Live chat and text-based messaging are available for brief updates, journaling between sessions, or when writing feels most natural. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or other daily demands while keeping focus on goals and real-world steps.