Mind Diagnostics is user-supported. If you buy through a link on the site, we earn a commission from BetterHelp at no cost to you. Learn More

Shawn Mcgivern, LMHC

Experienced mental health professional

Provides online counseling through BetterHelp

At a glance

Shawn is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.

5.0 stars
Clients are very satisfied with Shawn. View 12 reviews
Speaks English
Offers Telehealth visits
Licensed in Massachusetts

Recent reviews

I have only had two sessions with Shawn so far but I can honestly say that I’ve never felt like I’ve connected with a therapist before the way I feel like I connect with Shawn. She’s very easy to open up to and she helps me think through things in different ways. She’s encouraged me to create various good habits for myself in order to help me work towards my goals. I’m thankful to be on this journey of improving my mental health and overall state of mind with her.

Reviewed November 2024

She was very helpful and gave me better ways to think about things that bother me. I'm new to this whole therapy and counseling so I don't know the best way to go about it, but she is understanding from what I have seen so far. I wish I could talk about the more deep thoughts and feelings, but I don't quite know how to bring it up.

Reviewed May 2021

More about Shawn

  • 27 years' experience
  • Female
  • LMHC

Greetings! My name is Shawn McGivern. I am a licensed therapist in Massachusetts with 20+ years helping individuals and couples work through grief, loss, trauma, anxiety, depression,,co-dependence, parenting, couples and family conflict, and suffering related to gender, race, ethnicity, ageing, sexual identity--And - from young adulthood through retirement -adjustment to life transitions.

I particularly enjoy working with couples who ,with new commuinication skills may discover and experience the love they truly want.

My style is typically open, warm, empathic, compassionate, curious, humorous, and down-to-earth.

With attention to your particular age, culture, values, beliefs, personality style and goals , I offer interventions from various modalities including Humanistic, Existential, Psychoanalytic, Focusing

Cognitive Behavioral, Dialectical Behavior, Jungian, and Drama Therapy, all of which I am happy to discuss with you.

Background Information

In addition to private practice, I have served as a counselor and clinical supervisor at The Massachusetts College of Art and ,for 14 years , taught Psychology and Writing at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA. '

I completed post-graduate training in Existential Therapy, hold a Masters in Counseling Psychology from Lesley University,

a B.A. in English Literature from Boston College, attended Boston Conservatory of Music for training in classical voice and studied Shambala Writing Meditation at Naropa Institute. I am a former freelance arts writer for publications including The Boston Globe with a first career in promoting artists, writers, and performers for non-profits including The Institute of Contemporary Art and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.

I welcome clients of all ages, cultures, religious and spiritual practices, and gender identification and sexual orientation.

======================================================

FYI --- Cancellation Policy/Fee for Cancellation



Same day cancellations and/or a No Show will result in your account being charged a $15 cancellation fee.

Please adhere to your original agrement to cancel a minmum of 24 hours in advance.

Thanks!

Specialties

Stress Anxiety Relationship issues Trauma and abuse Grief Depression LGBT Family conflicts Intimacy-related issues Eating disorders Sleeping disorders Parenting issues Anger management Self esteem Career difficulties Coping with life changes Coaching Abandonment Adoption and foster care Aging and geriatric issues Attachment issues Avoidant personality Blended family issues Body image Caregiver issues and stress Codependency Commitment issues Communication problems Control issues Dependent personality Dissociation Divorce and separation Eating and food-related issues Emptiness Family of origin issues Family problems Fatherhood issues First responder issues Forgiveness Guilt and shame Immigration issues Impulsivity Infidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Midlife crisis Money and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concerns Narcissism Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacks Phobias Post-traumatic stress Prejudice and discrimination Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) Self-love Sex addiction Sexual assault and abuse Sexual dysfunction Sexuality Social anxiety and phobia Somatization Trichotillomania Women's issues Workplace issues

Treatment Approaches

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Attachment-Based Therapy
  • Client-Centered Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
  • Existential Therapy
  • Gottman Method
  • Imago Relationship Therapy
  • Jungian Therapy
  • Mindfulness Therapy
  • Motivational Interviewing
  • Narrative Therapy
  • Psychodynamic Therapy
  • Solution-Focused Therapy
  • Somatic Therapy
  • Trauma-Focused Therapy
  • Internal Family Systems

Licenses

Shawn Mcgivern's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1912585993.

  • LMHC · Massachusetts · 6656 · Expires December 2025

About online counseling

Affordable.
Pay a low flat fee.
Convenient.
Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
Available now.
There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.

Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space.

Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.

Reviews for Shawn Mcgivern

All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.

Overall rating:

5.0

12 reviews

5
4
3
2
1

Clients mention: Professional Comfortable Great Helped Helpful Caring Easy Recommend Understand Understanding

I have only had two sessions with Shawn so far but I can honestly say that I’ve never felt like I’ve connected with a therapist before the way I feel like I connect with Shawn. She’s very easy to open up to and she helps me think through things in different ways. She’s encouraged me to create various good habits for myself in order to help me work towards my goals. I’m thankful to be on this journey of improving my mental health and overall state of mind with her.

Reviewed November 2024

She was very helpful and gave me better ways to think about things that bother me. I'm new to this whole therapy and counseling so I don't know the best way to go about it, but she is understanding from what I have seen so far. I wish I could talk about the more deep thoughts and feelings, but I don't quite know how to bring it up.

Reviewed May 2021

Very attentive and gives very good advice and opinions/feedback. I really connected with her.

Reviewed August 2023

Wow. She is the best therapist I’ve ever had without a doubt. So lucky to have been matched with her during a horrific family crisis

Reviewed February 2023

I absolutely love working with Shawn. She is very compassionate, caring and nurturing. In the 1st session I was very comfortable because of her warm presence. She is very patient and understanding and works with me to identify methods to help me work though difficulties. I most certainly recommend her over and over again

Reviewed June 2022

Shawn has already helped me start to get on a better track and given me great insight into different ways to get myself where I need to be. I’m great full for her.

Reviewed February 2022

I felt that Shawn Mcgivern has excellent listening skills and would respond with really great advice in the moment. She is direct and caring. I like to get things done and out of the way and she has helped me expediate my therapy sessions. Not that I am finished, but I have directions and tools that I can work on and then hopefully circle back to Shawn for follow up.

Reviewed February 2022

I really appreciate Shawn's warmness and genuine care and concern. She has made it very comfortable for me to express distressing emotions and reassures me that I have her support. She checks in on me in between sessions , which is a huge plus for me. I am very happy to have personally selected her to work with. She's a very kind hearted and compassionate Therapist (and person) Shara

Reviewed November 2021

Shawn is very compassionate and perceptive. She has a non-threatening and helpful approach to providing therapy. You can tell she really cares.

Reviewed November 2021

Shawn is insightful and has been a great help to me with the challenges I’ve faced this year. Talking to her has definitely helped me for the better in making tough decisions!

Reviewed September 2021

I only had one session with Shawn Mcgivern But during that time I was very impressed and found her to be very supportive in my case. She is professional and if you don’t appreciate truth, choose another therapist because she holds no punches. That is something that I required & I am grateful for that.

Reviewed September 2021

Shawn is very helpful and the perfect match for me. Although brief, she really gave me the insight into the issues that I have and I feel more than confident to apply her guidance, for sure. She is empathetic, sympathetic, transparent, sensitive and easy going ; a wonderful person and great counselor. Anyone would be blessed to have her in their corner Thank you Shawn Shara

Reviewed July 2021

How was your experience with Shawn?

Frequently asked questions

Does Shawn Mcgivern offer telehealth visits?

Yes. Shawn Mcgivern works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.

What language(s) does Shawn Mcgivern speak?

Shawn Mcgivern speaks English.

How many years of experience does Shawn Mcgivern have?

Shawn Mcgivern has 27 years of experience.

Where is Shawn Mcgivern licensed to practice?

Shawn Mcgivern is licensed to practice in Massachusetts.

Does Shawn Mcgivern accept clients outside of the United States?

Yes, Shawn Mcgivern accepts clients outside of the United States.

Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?

Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."

What treatment approaches does Shawn Mcgivern offer?

Shawn Mcgivern offers clients Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Existential Therapy, Gottman Method, Imago Relationship Therapy, Jungian Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Somatic Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy, and Internal Family Systems.

How can I communicate with Shawn Mcgivern?

Shawn Mcgivern can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.

How do I get started with Shawn Mcgivern?

Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.

Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.

And recovery is possible.

Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video

When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.