Shannan Marano

ACA

Australia

Supportive counsellor focused on motivation and change

Continue with Shannan

At a glance

Credentials

ACA

Registration

ACA, Australia / 25897

Experience

3 years

Languages

English

Location

Australia

Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp.

1. • Motivational approach
   • Values-based work
   • Practical skills

   About Shannan

   Shannan Marano is an ACA counsellor with a Master-level background and three years in practice. She has worked across Aboriginal medical services, women's refuges and employment services. She focuses on stress, anxiety, addiction, relationship difficulty, trauma and abuse, and life transitions. She aims to treat people with respect, sensitivity and compassion.

   Shannan adapts sessions to each person's needs. Her approach blends Motivational Interviewing with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, among other methods. She focuses on helping people find motivation, notice unhelpful thoughts, and build small changes that fit everyday life.

   In sessions she uses a person-centred stance and pays attention to attachment and relationship patterns. She helps people talk through communication problems, guilt and shame, body image concerns and caregiver stress. Practical work might include grounding skills, values clarification and stepwise behaviour changes.

   Her background includes work supporting people affected by domestic violence, addiction and hospice or end-of-life concerns. That experience informs a straightforward, empathetic style. She aims to create a calm pace and clear goals so people can take manageable steps forward.

   Shannan works in Australia and conducts sessions in English. To begin, follow the site's Start Therapy process and complete the short matching questionnaire to find a schedule that fits.

2. How her approaches translate to online work

   Shannan commonly uses Motivational Interviewing and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in her sessions. Motivational Interviewing helps people uncover and strengthen their own reasons for change, which can be useful for addictions and habit shifts. ACT focuses on values and committed action, helping people accept difficult thoughts while moving toward what matters most in their life.
   
   She also draws on Attachment-Based ideas to notice relationship patterns and to support healthier ways of relating. Together these approaches are used in a collaborative way - the therapist and client decide which methods suit the person’s goals and preferences. Finding the right fit is a process and she works with people to test what helps most.
   
   Session formats are not detailed in the available biography, so confirm the current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy around work, caregiving and limited travel time, or to choose shorter check-ins when needed. It can also allow sessions without being on camera, using methods that suit quieter surroundings or lower bandwidth. Discuss practical arrangements with the therapist when you book so sessions match your day-to-day life.

4. Areas of expertise

   Primary focus

   Stress, AnxietyAddictionsRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseCoping with life changes

   Additional focus areas

   AbandonmentAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCommunication problemsDissociationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisPanic disorder and panic attacksSelf-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

   Therapeutic approaches

   Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Gottman MethodMotivational Interviewing

   Experience

   3+ years

   Listed in

   Australia

   Languages

   English

5. Frequently asked questions

   What kinds of concerns can be addressed?

   She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues, trauma and coping with life changes, plus related concerns such as attachment, body image and caregiver stress.

   What is her therapeutic style like?

   Her style is person-centred and collaborative, blending Motivational Interviewing with ACT and CBT to help people build motivation and practical changes.

   What experience does she bring?

   She has three years of experience, including roles in Aboriginal medical services, women's refuge centres and employment services.

   What credentials and location are listed?

   She is registered with the Australian Counsellors Association (ACA) and practices in Australia.

   In which languages are sessions offered?

   Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not currently accepted.

   What session formats are available?

   Session formats are not specified in the biography; please confirm current session options before booking.

   How does pricing work?

   Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

   How do I start working with her?

   Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

6. Online talk therapy is not emergency or medical care. Stopping or cutting down alcohol or other drugs can be unsafe without medical advice. In immediate danger? Crisis numbers

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