Shannan Blum
Working with Clients
I help teens and adults overcome self-doubt, despair, and fear of judgement by.getting clear on their values and worth, while learning skills to improve connections.
I do my best work with teens and young adults struggling with chronic anxiety and depression who are ready to reclaim joy and hope for the future. If you are overwhelmed by feelings of loneliness, insecurity, and worry I can help. In our work together, you will develop tools and skills to build hope, resiliency, and connection.
I am passionate about helping people to understand themselves and what motivates them. I guide you to feel connected to yourself, and to trust yourself more.
My decade of work helping families heal from eating disorders and trauma taught me that safe, trusting environments are a key foundation to emotional well-being. This is especially true for teens whose major task it is to separate and become independent adults. We will work together to help your children mature into healthy adults. I love helping parents or significant others understand their loved ones and how to relate to them.
I hold a safe space for the challenges that naturally happen in this process. I help your family find your strengths, nurture loving connection and safety, and model healthy boundaries and communication. These are skills which can be learned!
I have a special interest in working with individuals, part or whole families, who are working their way out of high-demand religious organizations or cults.
I have a unique position of holding both clinical training and my own lived experience with religious trauma such that I can bridge the personal and professional worlds. This empowers me to effectively speak to your practical, experiential & resolution processes where I am able to perceive your pain points and help you translate that into skills toward relief. This takes a tremendous amount of deep, values-based work. I can support you and teach you skills to work through this process. If safety is a worry, I can help you find resources in the community.
How I Got Here
I’ve been told my desire to help others was a trait I had from an early age. In elementary school, I frequently defended kids who were getting bullied. By the time I was a teen, I clearly noticed others’ pain and suffering. Friends sought me out to confide their struggles. My parents divorced during my pre-teen years and having a therapist and some good friends helped me through adolescence.
Experience taught me that trust and safety are the essentials for healthy relationships. The most important relationship we can have is first with ourselves. After that, we can expand into growing trust, vulnerability and emotional intimacy with others.
I struggled with self-trust and ‘hearing my inner voice’ as a teen, and converted to Mormonism, a high-control religion or cult, when I was 17. This self-doubt persisted well into my young adult years. I paid more attention to what others wanted so I could have their approval and acceptance. As a result, I had trouble making decisions through college including what to major in. I changed my mind four times before realizing that I simply wasn’t well suited for Communications, Dance, Nursing or Journalism… I wanted to be a Marriage and Family Therapist. Luckily, with the encouraging support of some key faculty members, I applied and was accepted.
I realized that I was deeply interested in working with adolescents and their parents. I wanted to help them communicate more for understanding than winning an argument. I found great satisfaction in helping others overcome self-doubt, learn new skills and get clear on their values to reconnect to themselves and others.
Outside the Office
I am remarried, and my current husband and I have a boatload of kids! I have four adult children and he has five, with eight grandchildren (gasp!). So, most of our time is spent nurturing connections with them in various ways – flying or driving to see them, Zoom calls, phone calls, sending care packages, etc.
We enjoy any day we can chill by the pool or vacation by the beach…pretty much doing nothing! For shorter excursions, we love 1-2 day-long trips on his motorcycle, seeing the state close-up. My favorite personal activity is horseback riding, and other than a beach vacation, my ultimate getaway would be a week of equestrian adventures or lessons with my sister in Scotland or Spain! If I’m staying at home, I enjoy watercolor painting…although I’m not very good at it.
Evidence-based Treatments
Eye Movement Desensitization Reprocessing Therapy (EMDR)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Intensively Trained
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy & Trauma-Focused CBT (skills & techniques)
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
Mindfulness-based skills & concepts
Mentalization-based treatment (MBT)
Training & Credentials
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #203219, Texas Behavioral Executive Committee
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist #86791, California Board of Behavioral Sciences
Master of Science, Marriage & Family Therapy, Brigham Young University
Certified Eating Disorder Specialist
Certified Clinical Anxiety Treatment Professional for Children & Adolescents
Certified Youth Mental Health Specialist
Certified Digital Health and Wellness Level 1 Professional
Rates & Availability
Individual Appointments – $185
EMDR/Extended Trauma Recovery sessions – $205
Family Session – extended time or more than 4 members – $205
Accepts United Healthcare and Aetna Insurance
Monday through Wednesday: 8am-6pm
Thursday: 8am-5pm (virtual from 2-5pm)
Friday: 8am-4pm (virtual only)