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SA Portrait of Shannon Almeida

Shannon Almeida

Compassionate evidence-based therapy for real-life change

About Shannon

Shannon Almeida is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) practicing in Illinois who blends evidence-based methods with lived experience to support adults navigating stress, anxiety, trauma, identity questions, and life transitions.

Background and approach

With seven years of professional experience, she combines active, collaborative conversation with attention to the body and nervous system to uncover underlying patterns that influence feelings, avoidance, and behavior. Sessions emphasize both insight and applied practice: emotional processing and body-based awareness in session are paired with practical behavior-focused tools for use between meetings.

Shannon draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), attachment-informed perspectives, and client-centered principles to tailor interventions to each person’s needs. Her approach acknowledges the interplay of personal, relational, and systemic factors and seeks to hold an anti-oppressive lens throughout the work.

Shannon also speaks from lived experience with neurodivergence and chronic health challenges, which informs her focus on creating an affirming, grounded space where clients can explore values, build coping skills, and practice sustainable change without requiring perfection.

Evidence-Based Approaches Adapted for Online Care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps clients clarify personal values and take committed actions that align with those values while learning to relate differently to difficult thoughts and feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and testing unhelpful thought patterns and building concrete skills to change behaviors and reduce symptoms. Attachment-Based Therapy centers on patterns of relating and how early relational experiences shape current interactions, helping people understand and shift how they connect with others.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Shannon works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods fit their goals, preferences, and current needs. She combines elements from different models as appropriate so the plan evolves with client feedback and practical results.

Online therapy with video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging offers flexibility for people with busy schedules, health constraints, or geographic limits. These options make it easier to practice skills between sessions, maintain continuity during life changes, and access consistent support without travel, while still using the same evidence-informed tools and collaborative process that guide in-person work.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Shannon commonly address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and family issues, parenting concerns, ADHD, LGBT identity questions, and life transitions among other areas.
What is Shannon’s style of therapy?
Her approach is collaborative and active, combining talk-based emotional processing with body-aware work and practical behavioral exercises to support change in daily life.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Shannon has seven years of professional experience providing clinical care and applying evidence-based therapies across a range of concerns.
What credentials and location are on record?
She is licensed as an LMFT in Illinois with license number IL LMFT 166.001408 and practices from that state.
Can I work with her in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Shannon offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.
How are fees and payment handled?
Costs vary by location and therapist availability; sessions operate through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Shannon?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a session according to her availability.