Description
Hello, I am Shannon Polee. I am a licensed marriage and family therapist. I was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. I earned my bachelor's degree from the University of California San Diego, majoring in English Literature and minoring in Educational Psychology. I had the privilege of studying literature at the Historically Black College, Spelman, during a part of my undergraduate experience. I received my master's degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from the University of Southern California. I completed a yearlong practicum through Counseling Partners of Los Angeles, where I was able to facilitate individual and group therapy to underserved middle school students of color in the Greater Los Angeles area.
I have a wide array of experiences working with TAY and adult populations in community based mental health organizations, home-based settings, outpatient and residential treatment facilities. I have completed a sexual assault training and served as a victim advocate at Community Service Programs, Inc (Way Makers OC) in order to facilitate CA statewide presentations educating agencies on victim/survivor centered models, to more effectively promote outreach and advocacy for mental health services in under privileged areas. In addition to my work with KCW PSYCH SERVICES, I currently work at a for profit telehealth agency, providing individual therapy for diverse adult populations.
Throughout my personal and clinical experiences as an underserved African American woman, working with marginalized populations, I have developed a passion to change the mental health stigma among minority communities and underrepresented groups, who often experience inferior and differential counseling services. My mission throughout my clinical experience has been about providing quality and all-inclusive treatment that provides more emphasis on intersectionality, social injustices and other systemic problems that often have an impact on my client's family dynamics, career development, transitional changes, life stressors, anxiety, depression, trauma, self-esteem, etc. I strive to meet them where they are and give access where others have lacked the capacity to do so. I utilize a holistic treatment approach, filled with creative and integrative techniques, such as Client Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Solution Focused Therapy, Gestalt Therapy, and I utilize emotion focused, creative techniques (i.e. writing, videos, role playing, music, visual aids, etc.,), and can incorporate the clients Spiritual/Religious practices (per request if warranted) to help clients achieve their goals in mind, body and spirit. I also aim to honor and encourage individuality, authenticity and self-determination.
I am committed to helping clients delve in introspective and self-reflective pathways to understand themselves fully, make authentic choices, create meaningful relationships and find balance and fulfillment.
I currently provide therapy to clients who identify as members of BIPOC, (e.g. Black, African American, Hispanic, Latinx, Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander...etc), POC, LGBTQIA+ and other marginalized underrepresented communities in the mental health space who reside in the state of California. I also work with individuals who do not identify within the aforementioned communities, but who identify as being allies to individuals in those communities as well.
I currently provide therapy to clients who reside in the state of California. Please contact me at admin@kcwpsychologicalservices.com or 323-207-5454 to schedule a free consultation session.
I look forward to meeting with you 🙂