As a licensed social worker and clinician, I have always believed that meeting my clients where they are at and working to understand life through their eyes is a necessity to fulfilling my role and providing the best care that I can. Understanding that every walk of life and lived experience makes us unique also helps us understand that the way we work through our struggles in life can be equally individual and unique as well.

Earning my MSW from Fordham University in NYC, I began my career working a mix of organizational and advocacy roles ranging from the resource advocacy, education, and administration. Throughout this, I have always maintained a clinical role with practicing at a psychoanalytic institute in Manhattan as well as running different intensive group therapy programs in the Dallas area with children and adults. Currently, I split my time between running an adult PHP/IOP trauma group and seeing individuals in private practice with a focus on trauma, as well as depression, anxiety, grief, OCD, and bipolar.

I approach my practice through a humanistic and often existential lens with a major focus being on understanding my clients’ lived experiences and providing a safe and accepting space to be vulnerable. I have received training from the Arizona Trauma Institute as well as specialized training in Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) and Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT).

Chris Shade is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Intern enrolled at Texas Woman’s University with a graduation date of May 2024. In addition to the university coursework with a focus on clinical treatment and psychotherapy Chris is trained in Levels 1 and 2 of the Gottman Method couples therapy and specializes in helping couples work through their concerns enhance their communication rebuild their friendship and he offers tools to help navigate conflict where both partners feel heard and understood. Additionally, he practices Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) a form of treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a host of problems including depression anxiety etc. Chris often uses bibliotherapy with clients interested in reading a book and/or workbook that supports their presenting problems such as Healing Your Lost Inner Child: How to Stop Impulsive Reactions, Set Healthy Boundaries and Embrace an Authentic Life, The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You're Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are, Attached: The New Science of Adult Attachment and How It Can Help You Find—and Keep—Love, Codependent No More: How to Stop Controlling Others and Start Caring for Yourself etc. 

After 30 years in public education serving as a teacher, principal, central office administrator, and keynote speaker across the country, Chris retired in December 2022 to pursue a career in counseling. His primary interests are working with depression anxiety and trauma (including religious trauma, crisis of faith, deconstruction, etc.) as well as a host of other mental health concerns caused by day-to-day stressors and/or issues stemming from childhood and/or family of origin. While new to the field of counseling Chris has had years of experience in his career supporting people through personal concerns and crises and is understanding of clients’ lived experiences and offers the same with you in a warm and caring therapeutic setting.