ShawnTina Harrod, LMHC
Psychotherapist
I’m a career switcher who decided to listen to my heart and take the plunge toward change. I’ve always been fascinated by history, people’s stories, and their perceptions of themselves and the world. But I noticed that sometimes those stories were distorted and people needed other perspectives—I wanted to be the person to help that change occur. Part of my training included working for several years at an outpatient clinic, which provided me with a wealth of experience treating a variety of conditions and life transitions with compassion. During the day, I work as a counselor for first-generation college students and students who receive special accommodations. I love my day job because it doesn’t feel like work.
Effecting change in your life is a process—it doesn't happen overnight. But the first step is always choosing change and strength. In a safe space without judgment, we will develop a bidirectional relationship. My approach is an eclectic blend of humanistic, behavioral, psychodynamic, and active/responsive therapy, with a dose of existentialist philosophy. I am warm, caring, and curious, and I use a gentle directness that my clients appreciate. My style is a transparent representation of myself—open, warm, and zen. Together, we will reinforce your inner strengths and resources to build resilience.
I’m passionate about helping clients take control over their lives and their stories. I’m overjoyed when I get to witness my clients achieve self-actualization or have “a-ha” moments, whether those are moments of joy or pain. I feel honored to be able to help my clients on their journeys toward self-awareness, growth, and healing. I simply love the work I do!
Additional Background Information
Credentials
Accredited by the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC).
Licensed Mental Health Counselor, authorized to practice clinical counseling & psychotherapy in the state of New York
CAQH Credentialed for Optum Insurance, Oxford, and United Healthcare, Cigna, Empire BCBS
Education
Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness, Master of Arts from New York University, Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, & Human Development, 2008,
Honors: Valedictory Banner Bearer
Additional Training
NYU School of Social Work, Post-Master’s Certificate, Advance Assessment and Diagnosis of Children and Adolescents
Nalanda Institute Compassion-Based Resilience Training (CBRT)
Motivational Interviewing
Co-Active Training Institute, Fundamentals of Professional Coaching
Affiliations
New York State Mental Health Association, Metro Chapter
Alma Therapy Member
What People Are Saying
Individual Therapy
“Therapy with ShawnTina has helped me unlearn behaviors, become comfortable with the peaks and valleys of life, while coming to an understanding on how to live my life with clinical depression.”
— Samar S.
“Therapy helped me release built-up emotions. I was able to understand my anxiety better and find ways to advocate and stand-up for myself. It’s been so helpful to work with ShawnTina in preparation for the next chapter of my life!”
-Julia E.
"I am so happy to have found ShawnTina Harrod and I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with her for 18 months. I had been searching for a therapist for a while before working with ShawnTina but did not have great success in finding a therapist that I felt that I could feel safe with! We connected during the height of COVID in Summer 2020 and as a result, all of our sessions were via telephone. ShawnTina's warm demeanor fostered my sense of comfort and supported me in being vulnerable to show up as my most authentic self. With her expertise in life transitions, anxiety and panic disorders, and general relationship challenges, I gained a strong sense of understanding of my current life transitions and was able to put a name to the complex relationship-based trauma I was unpacking. Working with ShawnTina was incredibly validating and affirming. She supported me in identifying and understanding complex familial and intimate relationship dynamics and provided numerous recommendations for resources to support my continued growth. I feel as though I am better equipped to identify my triggers and enforce healthy boundaries in my personal and professional life as a direct result from our sessions. I also have a tool kit of resources to review when I need to revisit and address difficult emotions as they arise. I have truly benefited from her expertise and I would highly recommend her services!"
- Martha M.
Couple Counseling
“Couple counseling has helped me and my partner identify and recognize our fighting patterns. This has helped us tremendously in working on how to productively argue and come to a resolution.”
— Sabrina M.
Consultation Work
“I’ve had the good fortune to know ShawnTina for over fifteen years. She is a wise and kind guide, and I enthusiastically recommend her as a mental health and wellness expert. We first met as colleagues in the research dept. of a large social service nonprofit. I was deeply impressed by her insight, skill, compassion, and professionalism. Since then, I’ve continued to rely on her as a trusted consultant over the years, including providing direct-service counseling support to young people transitioning to independent adulthood, input on appropriate selection of standardized mental health scales for program evaluations, and strategic guidance on best practices responsive to the needs of different communities of service. I am immensely grateful to have access to her talent and skills.”
— Jaclyn Kelly, Director, NYCLMIS at the Center for Urban Research, CUNY Graduate Center