Shea McGinnis Counseling

Hi! My name is Shea McGinnis. When supporting others, my approach is to create a space and opportunity to feel safe, validated, and a part of. With that, here is a list of my guarantees and what you can count on: I will remain authentic and transparent throughout the healing process to ensure safety. I will be reliable and have integrity within the therapeutic relationship that we build together. I will remain non-judgmental and nourish excitement about developing a creative treatment process individualized to your strengths, needs, abilities, and preferences. I will offer compassionate and direct communication. I will treat you with respect and dignity. My approach to therapy is a relational and integrative approach that combines cognitive work, building emotional capacities, trauma processing, and somatic resourcing (becoming more present and embodied). I rely heavily on recent neuroscience and attachment research and research from relational theories. Relational theories view disconnection experiences (within ourselves, with others, or with the world) as what leads to human suffering. Naturally, we are relational beings; however, we have learned through past experiences to hide parts of ourselves to be accepted or loved. My goal is to create a growth-fostering relationship where we can reclaim those parts of ourselves and heal the disconnection from our past with new narratives. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with the North Carolina Board of Licensed Clinical Social Work. In addition, I am a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS). I received a Master of Social Work in May 2020 from East Tennessee State University. I have worked in community mental health outpatient clinics and an inpatient residential program working with co-occurring disorders for over a decade. I currently specialize in working with trauma, mood disorders, anxiety disorders, personality disorders, and alcohol and substance use disorders. I am trained in the Gorski Relapse Prevention model and specialize in supporting individuals who have a history of or are currently struggling with addictive behaviors. When I am not working, my focus is on creating a life that aligns with my values of family, creativity, nature, and connection. You may find me sitting in a sunspot beside that beautiful withering tree, mindfully watching as my two kids are exploring the world around them. Or smiling and laughing alongside my partner as we connect with friends under the moon and around a fire. Embers are flying! These are the moments I feel most aligned with my most precious values; I feel content. So, as we work together, I hope to help you find your moments of contentment and live a life that is yours.