Dr. Sneha Shankar
Your life is more than what happened to you. Therapy should help you build the rest.
PhD, LP · Licensed Psychologist · Michigan
I specialize in the treatment of trauma and trauma-related difficulties. I've worked in hospitals, jails, prisons, and college counseling centers — and in every setting, the through line has been the same: helping people process pain and expand their lives to include more than it.
At a Glance
Trauma treatment that goes beyond the story
I see therapy as a partnership. You are the expert on your life. I am the expert on psychology. When we combine those, we can get you to where you want to be — not where someone else thinks you should be.
My approach is collaborative and integrative, which means treatment is individualized to your needs and personality. If something isn't working, we change it. Therapy is a space for you, and it can be whatever you need it to be.
Training shaped by real-world complexity
My clinical training took me through some of the most complex environments in mental health. At the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, I focused on the intersections of trauma, substance use, and involvement with the justice system. At Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx, I worked within the THRIVE track — Trauma Healing and Resilience in Vulnerable Environments — helping clients process trauma and build lives that hold more than pain.
These experiences shaped how I think about healing: it's not just about processing the past. It's about expanding what's possible going forward.
Who I work with
I work with adults navigating trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, personality disorders, life transitions, and the process of simply learning more about who they are. I have particular experience with clients whose trauma is entangled with systems — the justice system, the medical system, institutional environments — and with people who have been underserved by traditional mental health care.
I'm also engaged in research that destigmatizes mental health and works toward mental health equity, because everyone deserves access to care that is competent, respectful, and real.
You're the expert on your life. I'm the expert on psychology.
A True Partnership
Therapy works best when both people in the room bring their expertise. You know what you've lived. I know the science of how people heal. Together, we figure out what comes next.
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Specialties
- Trauma & PTSD
- Complex trauma
- Depression & anxiety
- Personality disorders
- Life transitions
- Justice system involvement
- Substance use & co-occurring issues
- Identity exploration
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Approach
- Collaborative & integrative
- Trauma-informed
- Individualized treatment
- Strengths-based
- Research-informed
- Equity-centered
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Insurance & Access
- Insurance panels TBD
- Private pay
- Forest Ferns Counseling
- Accepting new clients late summer 2026
Interested in working with Dr. Shankar?
Sneha will be accepting new clients beginning late summer 2026. Reach out now to get on the list, or we can match you with another clinician on our team in the meantime. Text us or fill out our request form. Please tell us your insurance so we can verify your benefits.