Shannon E. Smith

Hi. I'm Shannon. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. My areas of interest include personality and identity development, LGBTQIA concerns (including gender dysphoria, gender exploration & gender transition), depression and other mood disorders, anxiety, grief and loss, men's mental health, post-trauma intervention, and treatment for problem sexual behavior. Before beginning my career in counseling, I worked in the field of victim services for 15 years, serving as a professional victim advocate in five different states and speaking on a local and national level about the effects of sexual violence. I remain passionate about the issues related to sexual trauma and victimization. I have provided individual and group treatment for those convicted of sexual offenses since 2015, and I have facilitated a process group for victims of sexual violence since 2019. In addition to my clinical work, I have provided expert witness testimony regarding the dynamics of sexual and intimate partner violence, the response to sexual violence, victim behaviors, and the effects of trauma. I am honored to work alongside clients on their journeys towards self-discovery, healing and wellness. I am both compassionate and direct. I practice with an anti-discrimination, anti-oppression, and anti-racist orientation, and I care about how your personal experiences have influenced your view of yourself, of others, and of the world. I use an integrative and client-centered approach to counseling to assist clients in their personal growth and development. I provide off-site group therapy by contract and in partnership with local organizations. I am also available for training and consultation to professionals and service organizations on topics including trauma, interpersonal violence, mental health disorders, gender and sexuality, sex offender management and treatment, and self-care for caregivers. Education: Master of Arts in Education (Community Mental Health Counseling), Louisiana State University, 2015 Licensure & Certification: Louisiana Licensed Professional Counselor (#6479) National Certified Counselor (#782021) Louisiana LPC Board-Approved Telemental Health Provider Associate Professional, Louisiana Registry of Sexual Offender Treatment Providers (LA Act. 848) Professional Memberships: Louisiana Counseling Association (LCA) American Counseling Association (ACA) National Board of Certified Counselors (NBCC) Chi Sigma Iota Counseling Academic & Professional Honor Society International; Alpha Chi Chapter (Louisiana State University) Association for the Treatment of Sexual Abusers (ATSA) World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) The Gender Affirming Letter Access Project (GALAP) Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex & Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE) Saige of Louisiana-Society for Sexual, Affectional, Intersex, & Gender Expansive Identities (SAIGE-LA) Louisiana Association of Addiction and Offender Counselors Louisiana Group Psychotherapy Society (LGPS)