THERAPIST INTERN
Spencer Payton Shanks
Pronouns:
Licensure: Therapist Intern
Location:
Languages: English
Accepting New Clients: Limited Availability
Sliding Scale: To be confirmed
Insurance: To be confirmed
About Spencer
I am a MSW Intern devoted to expanding my education and experience. I stepped into this field with a combination of personal experience, curiosity, and a lifelong exposure to therapy. Growing up with an LMFT mother gave me an early understanding into the power of being truly heard and supported. As I moved through my own life, experiences with personal grief deepened my comprehension of how profoundly our experiences can shape the way we see ourselves, our relationships, and the world around us.
Specialties
Addiction
Anxiety
Blended Families
Body Dysmorphia
Bullying/Cyber Bullying
Depression
Gender Identity
Intergenerational Trauma & Healing
LGBQ+ (Sexuality)
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
Racial/ Cultural Identity
Relationships and Self-Esteem/Worth/
Compassion
Areas of Focus
Black Liberation
Gender-Affirming Care Access Advocate (TGNB)
Gender-Affirming Care Knowledgeable (TGNB)
Peer Support and Racial
Modalities
Addiction Counseling
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Compassion Focused
Culturally Responsive/Affirming
Dance/Movement Therapy
Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
Family Systems
Humanistic
Internal Family Systems (IFS)
Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction
Mindfulness Based Therapy (including MBCT)
Motivational Interviewing
Narrative Therapy
Person-Centered Therapy
Positive Psychology
Spiritual Healing Practices
Strength-Based
Trauma Informed Therapy
Yoga
Lived Experience
and Perspective
African American
Cisgender
LGBQ+ Sexuality
Person of Color
Woman or Femme
Why I Do This Work
- Spencer Payton Shanks 
My Approach in Practice
What Clients Often Come to Me For
People often reach out when life feels heavy, layered, or difficult to put into words.
Our work focuses on making sense of what you have lived through while supporting you in building clarity, resilience, and self-trust in ways that fit your life and values.
