MEET SHAWNDA

Shawnda O’Briant-Noone

she/her

Licensed Marriage and Family Therapy Associate

Whatever story brought you here, you are welcome to come as you are.

I offer a warm, grounding space that invites curiosity, slowness, and choice. In session, clients often describe feeling deeply seen and supported. There’s room for humor, too, and for the kind of honesty that can feel both vulnerable and empowering. Whether you come in as an individual or as part of a relationship system, you’ll be met with care, nuance, and a deep respect for your lived experience.

I work with adults and young adults navigating anxiety, trauma (CPTSD and PTSD), chronic illness, grief, identity exploration, and relationship challenges. Many of the people I work with are deep feelers, high achievers, internal processors, or folks who’ve learned to show up for others before themselves.

My approach is experiential, somatic (body-oriented), and trauma-informed. We’ll tune in to what you feel, sense, and carry, not just what you say. Through breath, imagery, movement, or grounding practices, we’ll deepen your awareness, support your nervous system, and reconnect with the inner wisdom you carry from your lived experiences and identities.

I also hold a systemic lens, understanding that we’re shaped by our environments, identities, and relationships. When working with those in partnerships (couples, polycules, best friends, business partners, and beyond), I’m not here to take sides. I help each person feel heard and understood, and I guide the process toward deeper connection, clarity, and shared understanding.

I believe that healing comes from being witnessed, and each person deserves the space to be witnessed without judgment so that they can see themselves and the worthiness they may have forgotten along the way.

Therapy with me is deeply human. We’ll explore what’s been carried and what’s been buried, while making space for what’s possible. This is a space where all of you is welcome — including the parts still becoming.

Training and Education

Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy, Pacific Lutheran University

Bachelor of Arts in Psychology, University of Washington

CERTIFICATIONS

  • Certified Clinical Trauma Professional Level II: Complex Trauma

  • Somatic Therapy for Complex Trauma Certification

  • Transform Trauma Recovery with Polyvagal Theory Certification

  • Certified Grief Informed Professional

  • Grief Care Professional Certificate

  • Parts Work Trauma Specialist

  • Gottman Level 1 + 2 Certification

  • E-RYT 200HR Yoga Teacher Certification + 50HR Yin Yoga Teacher Certification

Modalities + Theories I work from

  • A present-focused approach that helps you engage with your emotions, body, and inner world through direct experience, not just talk.

  • A compassionate, nonjudgmental approach that trusts you as the expert of your own experience and centers your autonomy.

  • A body-based approach that supports healing by tuning into physical sensations, nervous system cues, and embodied patterns.

  • An approach that sees you within the larger web of your relationships, culture, and environment—understanding how those systems shape your experiences.

  • A relational lens that explores how early bonds impact how you connect, trust, and show up in relationships today.

  • An approach that helps you connect with the protective, reactive, and vulnerable parts of you, so they feel more understood, less alone, and better supported.

A little more about me

When I’m not in therapist mode, I’m usually recharging through things that bring joy and connection: painting, moving my body, getting into a good book, or playing video games. I love catching live music (or spinning vinyl at home), spending time with friends, and finding new places to explore around the PNW with my partner and our two dogs. Meditation and gardening are also part of my routine, they help me slow down, reset, and stay connected to myself.