About Shakena
Dr. Shakena Mabry is a licensed clinical social worker with twelve years of practice. She works from Maryland and helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
She also supports those coping with relationship strain, loss, addiction, and questions about sexuality and identity. Her approach starts with listening. She treats people as the experts on their lives and looks for strengths to build on.
Sessions focus on clear goals and small, useful steps that fit everyday life.
Background and approach
She aims to make change feel practical rather than overwhelming. Dr. Mabry uses a mix of talking and skills practice.
That can include examining thoughts and habits, trying new coping skills, and practicing emotional regulation. She may also use trauma-focused methods when past experiences shape current distress. The work often balances immediate relief with longer-term changes in behavior and perspective.
People who reach out to her are often juggling multiple demands. She pays attention to caregiver stress, burnout, and compassion fatigue. She also helps with mood swings, impulsivity, and grief that follows major life changes.
When someone starts with her, the process usually begins with a short intake to understand needs and goals. After that, sessions are scheduled in a way that fits the person’s life. The emphasis is on steady progress and on tools the person can use between appointments.
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and values, then taking meaningful action even when feelings are uncomfortable. It can help when someone feels stuck or unsure about what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and uses specific exercises to change unhelpful patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression, and everyday stress. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a trauma-informed method that helps process distressing memories and reduce their hold on current life.Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will discuss goals, try methods that fit the person, and adjust the plan based on what helps. Clients and therapist work together to choose techniques that match needs, pace, and comfort level.
Online sessions offer flexibility for people with busy schedules or limited travel time. Video calls let the therapist and client meet face to face; phone sessions work well when bandwidth is low or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging provide a way to share updates between sessions or check in without a full appointment. These options make it easier to keep therapy steady while juggling work, caregiving, or other responsibilities.
Questions people ask
What concerns does Dr. Mabry address?
What is her therapeutic style like?
How much experience does she have?
What credentials and location are listed for her?
Which languages and international options are available?
What session formats are offered?
How does billing and cost work?
How do I begin working with her?
What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Grief
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sexuality
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 12 years
- Licensed
- Maryland, District of Columbia, New York, Pennsylvania
- Languages
- English
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