Shannan Marano

Shannan Marano is a Master-level counsellor registered with the Australian Counsellors Association (ACA) at Level 3. She has three years' experience working across settings such as Aboriginal Medical Services, women’s refuge centres and employment services. Shannan focuses on gentle, practical support for people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, relationship strain, trauma and abuse. She aims to create a respectful and compassionate space where people can begin to make changes.

Shannan adapts sessions to each person's needs rather than using a one-size-fits-all plan. She draws on approaches like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice patterns and try new actions. Attachment-based ideas and client-centred listening guide how she responds in the room.

Her work also addresses issues such as abandonment, attachment difficulties, body image and caregiver stress. People who are dealing with grief, hospice and end-of-life concerns, isolation or life purpose questions may find the focus relevant. Practical tools and clear steps are offered alongside space to process feelings.

Sessions emphasise respect, sensitivity and honesty. Shannan encourages small, achievable changes and supports clients to notice what matters most to them. She frames therapy as a collaborative process and aims to help people feel more able to move forward.

To begin, she asks people to reflect on goals and what helps them feel steadier day to day. Shannan works to build a plan that fits each person’s pace and priorities, and to provide steady support through change.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and choose actions that reflect their values. It is useful for anxiety, stress and making changes people want to keep. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying thought and behaviour patterns and practising alternative responses to reduce distress and improve day-to-day functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences and what feels most helpful. Together they will try methods that suit the situation and adjust over time if something does not fit.

The biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so confirm the current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when that suits. They also let people use methods such as ACT and CBT in between sessions with homework and practical exercises to build skills into everyday life.