Shannon Shaffer Peterson, LMFT

California · 35 years in practice

Shannon Shaffer Peterson is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people facing low self-esteem, bipolar disorder, depression, and major life changes.

License and registration

LMFT, California: 131678 · expires March 2026
NPI: 1972626521 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 35
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Shannon

Shannon Shaffer Peterson is a licensed marriage and family therapist who helps people facing low self-esteem, bipolar disorder, depression, and major life changes. She also supports those dealing with compassion fatigue, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, isolation, and social anxiety. Shannon writes plainly and listens closely to understand what matters most to each person.

She aims to make sessions feel calm and nonjudgmental. Shannon works in a way that encourages people to name their feelings and try new ways of coping.

Background and approach

Conversations focus on practical steps, clearer thinking, and small changes that can make daily life easier. Shannon uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside client-centered methods and motivational interviewing. That means she pays attention to emotions, follows the client’s lead, and helps people find their own reasons to change.

Sessions include reflective listening, gentle questions, and guidance to help clients move forward at their own pace. With 35 years as a licensed practitioner, Shannon draws on long experience with mood disorders and caregiving stress. She keeps work straightforward and goal-minded so people can see progress between sessions.

She explains options and invites clients to choose what feels workable. Work is offered in English and conducted from California. The tone is supportive and practical, aimed at adults who want clear, steady help with emotional highs and lows, life transitions, or the strain of caregiving.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Shannon lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Approaches Shannon names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

Emotion and Motivation in Online Care

Shannon uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people understand and name strong feelings, then work through patterns that keep them stuck. EFT is useful for people who want to get clearer about their emotional reactions and form new ways of responding.

She also uses client-centered therapy, which involves listening closely and following the client’s priorities so sessions fit the person’s pace. Motivational interviewing helps when someone feels stuck about change by exploring personal reasons for taking the next steps.

Deciding which approach will help most is part of the work. Shannon partners with clients to identify goals, try a method, and adjust as needed. That collaborative process helps tailor the therapy to each person’s needs and preferences.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video calls are good for face-to-face conversation and reading expressions. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can fit into a short break. Live chat and text messaging help when someone prefers writing or wants brief check-ins. These options make it easier to schedule care around work, medical needs, or caregiving duties.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does Shannon commonly help with?

She addresses self-esteem, bipolar disorder, depression, coping with major life changes, and compassion fatigue, plus caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, isolation, mood disorders, seasonal affective disorder, and social anxiety.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her style is calm and nonjudgmental. She listens closely, reflects feelings, and helps clients set practical steps they can try between sessions.

What is her professional background?

She brings 35 years of experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist working with mood and adjustment issues.

Where is she licensed and based?

She is licensed in California as an LMFT and provides services from that state.

Can people who speak other languages work with her?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Sessions can be done by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How are costs handled for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How do I start working with her?

Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

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