Associate art therapist

Meet Shawn! (she/her)

Specializing in cancer & chronic illness/pain, parenting & adoption issues, religious trauma, and complex trauma

Openings currently available @ Pittsford.
Please contact for availability.

$100 self-pay rate.

I’m so glad you’re here! Your mental health isn’t something that needs to be fixed, it just needs some guidance. Whether you have a chronic illness, chronic pain, cancer; are neurodivergent (autism/ADHD); experience depression or anxiety; or want to learn effective communication and build healthy relationships we can work together to find the tools you need to care for your mental health more effectively. There’s nothing wrong with you. You just haven’t learned the best way for you to manage your mental health…yet.

As a therapist, I believe in helping you not just to live, but to thrive. If you’re ready to stop treading water and want to start swimming, let’s get started! First and foremost, you will be greeted with empathy and compassion in a space free from judgement. This is your hour and my job is to provide you with the concrete tools and skills you need to live more authentically and to find purpose and meaning in your day-to-day. My approach is eclectic, and I use various methods to meet your needs, which include solution-focused approaches, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), radical acceptance, strength-based therapy, and existentialism… all through a creative arts therapy lens. I aim to be authentic and transparent, creating a safe space for you to embark on self-discovery and explore your own solutions.

This is art therapy, right? So, what does that mean, and how does that look in a session? Art-making in session can provide you with an outlet to release unwanted feelings or provide a method of communication when words are difficult to access. Additionally, while I will only use these tools for those who are drawn to it, I can include crystals, astrology, tarot, and meditation in our sessions – because I love that stuff. Through our work together I anticipate you being able to access your strengths more consistently, better understand your personal needs and values, and discover healthier ways to express and honor your emotions.

Are you looking to make a change in life and would like some support?
Do you struggle with the limitations of your physical or emotional health?
Are you self-conscious or always worried about what others will think?
Do you want to learn to be kinder to yourself and be more authentic?
Are you seeking an action oriented, step-by-step approach to therapy?
Are you wanting to find meaning and purpose in your life?

If the answer to many of these is yes, please reach out to see how I can help.

Shawn Shannon-Missal, LCAT-P is working under a limited permit in creative arts therapy in New York State and is under supervision by Sarah Maynard, LCAT. She has a MS in counseling with a concentration in art therapy from PennWest/Edinboro University and has been practicing art-based psychotherapy since 2024.

“Nobody is wired wrong because there’s no wrong and right in the way we are.”

h. hart

“From the very beginning, Shawn created a safe and welcoming environment where my daughter felt comfortable expressing her emotions and thoughts. Her gentle and patient approach made it easy for my daughter to open up and explore her feelings through art.”