Shannon Hamar, MSc, RP, Psychotherapist
Therapist at a Glance:
Therapies Practiced: Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), and Gottman Method Couples Therapy
Populations Served: Adults, 18+
Services Offered:
Individual Therapy (50 minutes): $145+HST
Couples Therapy (50 minutes): $170+HST
Family Therapy (50 minutes): $170+HST
Treatment Specialties: Relationship Issues (including polyamorous dynamics), Divorce/Separation (including high conflict divorce), Intimate Partner/Domestic Violence & Abuse, Family Transitions, Trauma, Emotion Regulation, Shame & Guilt, Grief & Loss, Depression/Anxiety/Mood Disorders, LGBTQ
Insurance Information: Registered Psychotherapist (RP) #004593
Notice for Current Clients: Shannon is planning to go on parental leave starting in April 2024. She is planning to return around August 2024. Please contact us if you have any questions. Thank you.
Shannon’s Bio:
Shannon is a Registered Psychotherapist who graduated from the University of Guelph with a Masters of Science in Couple & Family Therapy. Before that, she completed a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a Minor in Psychology from McMaster University. Most of Shannon’s research focused on the factors that lead to unhealthy relationship dynamics, as well as the impact of divorce on children. The goal of her research was to find ways to help couples and families heal and grow through adversity.
Since beginning clinical practice in 2014, Shannon has worked with a wide range of clients and developed specialties in supporting high-conflict couples, families experiencing divorce/separation, children and adolescents who are experiencing mental health issues, and people impacted by domestic violence.
She draws from a range of effective therapy models including: Narrative Therapy, Emotion-Focused Therapy, Family Systems Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Gottman Method Relationship Therapy and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). She has also completed the University of Guelph’s Intensive Sex Therapy Training Program.
Shannon specializes in couple and relationship therapy, with a Master's degree in Couple and Family Therapy and formal training in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (EFT). EFT is an evidence-based intervention for couples that uses an attachment lens to foster emotional safety and trust between partners. Emotional safety can be compromised by a wide range of experiences such as trauma, infidelity, everyday negative communication patterns, problematic learned behaviour, intimacy issues, etc. In her work with couples, Shannon strives to create a safe space to break down barriers to open communication and facilitate healthy and positive interactions that heal the impact of past wounds and help partners feel more connected, heard, understood and loved by one another. Shannon is extremely passionate about working with couples - it is this work that inspired her to become a therapist.
Shannon knows how much courage and strength it takes to reach out and begin therapy. With a gift for highlighting her clients’ inherent strengths and resiliency, Shannon’s clients often comment on her ability to help them feel empowered to make changes and tackle obstacles. She also is renowned for helping her clients come to recognize what factors are within their control and guiding them in a direction that creates sustainable change in their lives. Shannon has experience working with individuals, couples, and families through various concerns such as unhealthy relationship dynamics & abuse, mental health, grief & loss, infidelity & trust, trauma, addiction, life transitions, shame & guilt, identity formation & exploration, chronic pain or illness, and personal growth.
When working with clients, Shannon brings her authentic, fun-loving self and is very transparent and open throughout the therapy process. She regularly offers her insight and thoughts in a gentle fashion that allows her clients to explore alternate perspectives and ideas. Shannon always welcomes client feedback and believes that exploring any emotions that come up during the therapeutic process is important in creating lasting change.
After having moved to Kitchener in 2015, Shannon has recently purchased a house in the KW area and is excited to set down her roots in a city she hopes to call her lifelong home!