Shannon Gaiser , LPC

Shannon Gaiser is a licensed counselor with 17 years of clinical experience who focuses on addiction and co-occurring disorders as well as a wide range of related challenges. She holds an MA - Master of Arts - and is an LPC, which stands for Licensed Professional Counselor. Drawing on long experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings, Shannon blends practical skills with personal insight as someone in recovery from opiate addiction herself, which informs her compassionate, nonjudgmental approach.

Her background includes nine years working in residential and outpatient rehabilitation programs and eight years in private practice alongside a suboxone prescriber. Shannon works with depression, anxiety, PTSD, ADHD, bipolar disorder, trauma and sexual abuse, grief, relationship and family issues, parenting and fatherhood concerns, and substance use disorders. She supports alternatives to traditional 12-step models, including medication-assisted treatment and medical marijuana when appropriate, and she emphasizes individualized paths to recovery rather than one-size-fits-all solutions.

In session Shannon uses client-centered methods, motivational interviewing, and cognitive behavioral techniques to help clients build coping skills, set healthy boundaries, and address family-of-origin and communication issues. She offers flexible contact options including text, video, and voice sessions, and typically responds to messages within about five hours with potentially longer response times on weekends. Shannon aims to meet clients where they are and to work alongside them toward practical, sustainable change.

Therapeutic approaches for online addiction and life transitions

Shannon commonly draws from cognitive behavioral therapy, client-centered therapy, and motivational interviewing to support clients in online sessions. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and it is often used to address anxiety, depression, and substance-related patterns by building practical coping skills and problem-solving strategies. Client-centered therapy centers the individual's experience and emphasizes empathy, acceptance, and collaboration, helping people explore values, emotions, and relationships at their own pace. Motivational interviewing is a goal-oriented, respectful approach that helps people resolve ambivalence about change and strengthen their own motivation for recovery and healthier choices.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Shannon works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors techniques over time, combining elements from different approaches as appropriate so the plan aligns with what the client wants to achieve.

Online therapy with Shannon is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which makes scheduling more flexible and helps people access support from home or on the go. These options allow for consistent contact, timely check-ins, and multiple ways to engage in treatment depending on what feels most helpful for the individual.