About

My name is Shanna Gonzales and I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist (LMFT) based in Bakersfield, California, and working with clients statewide via telehealth. I work with adults and adolescents specializing in stress, anxiety, trauma, and anger management. My approach My approach to therapy varies based on the needs of each client. I most frequently use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy to help my clients start feeling better and set specific measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound goals. My focus I have found that my style and approach are a good fit for children, teens, and young adults who may be dealing with trauma, the challenges of life transitions, and social pressures such as anxiety, depression, grief, and stress. I work to help my clients build skills to allow them to feel better about themselves and develop a more positive outlook overall. My communication style My communication style is calm and personable. I want my clients to feel comfortable talking with me about anything knowing they are not being judged. I always want my clients to be their authentic selves when working with me. My journey to therapy I decided to become a therapist when I begin my career as a social worker working for Child Protective Services. I have seen a huge need for children and families dealing with trauma and the help they need to overcome so many obstacles. Within that work, I developed a desire to help others who may be struggling to understand or cope with mental health issues. My goals for you My approach to goal setting with clients is all about working together to set attainable goals and define what you want to accomplish in our time together. This starts by building trust and having the client feel comfortable in therapy. Over time, we will monitor and track the progress of each goal.