Shawna Uskokovic
I’m a compassionate and genuine therapist who believes that people are capable of meaningful growth, healing, and change—even when life feels overwhelming or they feel stuck. I bring warmth, empathy, and curiosity into my work, creating a space where you can feel seen, heard, and understood without judgment. My approach is grounded not only in professional training, but also in the variety of life experiences that have shaped me. I understand that life rarely follows a straight path, and sometimes we need someone who can sit with us in the hard places while also helping us find a way forward. I work collaboratively with my clients, meeting you where you are while helping you move toward where you want to be. At the heart of my work is a genuine desire to make a difference in people’s lives. I consider it a privilege to walk alongside clients as they gain insight, build healthier patterns, navigate difficult seasons, and become more fully who they want to be.
First session
My hope is that you leave your first session feeling seen, heard, and understood. Beginning therapy can feel vulnerable, especially if you've never shared your story with a therapist before, so I want our first session to feel like a safe place to begin—not a place where you have to have all the answers. We'll spend time getting to know you, understanding what brought you to therapy, and beginning to identify what you hope will be different as a result of our work together. We'll also begin talking about goals and what moving forward might look like for you. Most importantly, I want you to leave with a sense of hope and a clearer sense of direction. You don't have to know exactly how to get there yet. That's something we can figure out together.
Strengths
One of the greatest strengths I bring to therapy is the ability to offer both compassion and honest perspective. I believe clients need a space where they can be fully themselves without judgment, but I also believe therapy should help us move forward—not simply stay where we are. My approach is informed by both professional training and lived experience. I don’t believe insight comes only from textbooks; life experience has taught me things about pain, relationships, change, resilience, and the complexity of being human that I bring into the therapy room with humility and authenticity. I aim to be an engaged therapist. I will absolutely slow down, listen, and hold space when that is what you need. At the same time, when you are ready, I’m willing to gently challenge unhelpful patterns, perspectives, or behaviors that may be keeping you stuck. I’ll help you identify the changes you want to make and support you in taking meaningful steps toward them. My goal is not to tell you how to live your life, but to help you better understand yourself, recognize your strengths, and make intentional choices about the life you want to create.
Ideal clients
I especially enjoy working with clients who are navigating difficult or painful life experiences and are ready to better understand themselves and create meaningful change. I have a particular passion for working with individuals experiencing betrayal trauma, including the impact of infidelity, compulsive sexual behaviors, and broken trust within relationships. My ideal client may be feeling overwhelmed, hurt, confused, or stuck and wondering how to move forward. They may be struggling to make sense of their experiences, understand their emotions, rebuild trust, establish healthy boundaries, or reconnect with themselves after a difficult season. You don't have to have everything figured out before beginning therapy. Whether you're looking for healing, greater self-understanding, healthier patterns, or simply a safe place to process what you're experiencing, I want to meet you where you are and help you move toward where you want to be.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and how these patterns can affect the way they experience and respond to life. Together, we may look at thoughts that arise in difficult situations and explore whether those thoughts are helpful, accurate, or connected to old patterns of thinking. We’ll also look at how those thoughts influence emotions and choices, and identify ways to respond differently when those patterns are no longer serving you. CBT is not about simply “thinking positively” or pretending difficult things aren't happening. Instead, it can help you develop a more balanced and compassionate way of understanding yourself and your circumstances. I also believe therapy should translate into real life. Along with gaining insight, we'll work on practical tools and new ways of responding that you can use outside of our sessions. My goal is to help you become more aware of your patterns, feel more confident in your ability to navigate challenges, and make choices that move you toward the life you want.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients better understand and manage difficult emotions, navigate challenging situations, and develop healthier ways of responding when life feels overwhelming. One of the ideas I value most in DBT is the ability to hold two seemingly opposing truths at the same time. For example, you can be doing the best you know how to do right now and recognize that there are things you want to change. You can accept yourself as you are and want something different for your life. You can understand why you responded a certain way and take responsibility for choosing a different response in the future. Together, we may explore what happens when emotions become intense and develop practical skills for managing those emotions, tolerating difficult moments, staying grounded, and communicating more effectively in relationships. I don't believe emotional acceptance means ignoring problems or giving up on change. Instead, I want to help you develop greater understanding and compassion for yourself while also identifying the choices and changes that can move you toward the life you want. That balance of acceptance and change is at the heart of how I incorporate DBT into my practice.
Location
Virtual sessions
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Licensed in
- CaliforniaLicense 104768
- ColoradoLicense CSW.09927821