Shannon Barna (she/her/hers), MFT is a Registered Marriage and Family Therapy Intern at The Meaningful Life Center. Shannon earned her Master’s Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at Southern Connecticut State University. Shannon takes a systemic approach in her work with clients, remembering that every person has connections with other people which plays a large role in the therapeutic process. She is committed to listening and understanding your story and collaborating with you to adopt new skills and tools to help you grow as a valued person.
Prior to joining The Meaningful Life Center, Shannon completed a 9 month long internship at a residential substance abuse treatment facility. She worked very closely with many individuals in recovery and collaborated intensely with colleagues. Shannon hosted group therapies with focuses on mindfulness, emotions, recovery skills and interpersonal relationship skills. Her participation at this internship has given her experience in working with individuals on all areas of the recovery spectrum; from just beginning, to maintaining years of sobriety. Shannon also has experience working with couples and families during her practicum training during Graduate School. She facilitated a safe, comfortable space for couples to work through disagreements and learn new skills to strengthen relationships. She listened and understood parents and children navigating the worlds of school life and home life as a family. Shannon is driven by being able to facilitate change and growth in her clients. Shannon has completed training in DBT (Dialectical Behavioral Therapy) and is ready to share her knowledge with individuals looking for a DBT approach to therapy.
Outside of therapy, Shannon enjoys caring for her 2 cats, in addition to playing games and spending quality time with friends and family. She enjoys skiing, video games, and jigsaw puzzles.
Shannon can be reached directly at 407-534-0186 ext. 301 or by email at shannon@themeaningfullifecenter.com.