Meet Shanen Smith, Registered Psychotherapist (she/her)
Does your body feel like it’s stuck in survival mode?
If anxiety lives in your body—tight chest, racing thoughts, exhaustion—you’re not alone.
Shanen uses somatic therapy and nervous system work to help you feel safer, calmer, and more like you again.
Want to get a feel for what it’s like to work with Shanen? Watch this short video to learn more about her approach and get to know her a bit better.
Therapy with Shanen is more than just talking.
Yes, you’ll have lots of space to talk—but you’ll also learn to tune into what your body’s trying to tell you.
Shanen works with clients navigating anxiety, stress and burnout, trauma, and the day-to-day overwhelm of being a human in a busy world. Her approach blends supportive talk therapy with nervous system education, mindfulness, and body-based somatic interventions.
Clients describe her as authentic, down-to-earth, and easy to connect with. She brings humour, care, and practical tools to help you tune into your body—and start to feel more calm, confident, and like yourself again.
Offers Individual Therapy (Age 18+)
Rate $175 (45-min)
Available Weekdays
Speaks English & French
Offers Individual Therapy (Age 18+) Rate $175 (45-min) Available Weekdays Speaks English & French
Who I Work With
You’ve done the therapy thing before — maybe even multiple times. You’ve read the books, tried the tools, and learned to reframe your thoughts. And yet… something still doesn’t feel right.
You’re the one everyone counts on — the dependable one, the responsible one. You hold it together, keep moving, push through. But underneath the surface, your nervous system is telling a different story.
You might be struggling with:
A constant sense of being “on edge” or overwhelmed
Shallow breathing, digestive issues, or difficulty sleeping
Snapping at the people you care about — even when you don’t mean to
Guilt or shame that lingers long after the moment has passed
Emotions that show up fast and loud, leaving you wondering, “Why did I react that way?”
You might look like you’re doing fine on the outside — but inside, you feel wired, tired, and disconnected. And you're starting to suspect that the answer isn’t more thinking — it’s learning how to feel safe in your body again.
If you’ve ever thought, “I’ve made progress, but there’s something deeper going on,” you’re probably right — and you’re probably in the right place.
I love working with women who are curious, open, and ready to go beyond talk therapy. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need to be willing to tune in, try new things, and trust that there’s more ease waiting for you in your body.
What I Help With
When anxiety or trauma lives in the body, it doesn’t always show up as “just” worrying or overthinking. It can look like:
Tightness in your chest or shoulders that never fully lets go
Digestive issues that flare up when you're stressed
Sleep issues like restlessness, insomnia, nightmares, waking up feeling already exhausted
Snapping at people you care about — then feeling awful after
Feeling emotionally flooded, overly sensitive, or on edge most of the time
You might look calm and capable on the outside, but inside, your nervous system is stuck in go-go-go mode — or shutting down completely. And even though you’ve learned how to talk about your feelings, what you really need now is to feel a sense of calm and safety in your body.
That’s where I come in.
I help clients understand what’s happening in their nervous system and gently learn how to regulate it. Together, we’ll get curious about the signals your body is sending, explore what helps you feel more grounded, and build real tools for calming your system from the inside out.
This is deeper work than traditional talk therapy — and it’s the missing piece for so many people.
How I Work
I offer a somatic, trauma-informed approach — which means we don’t just talk about your experiences. We pay attention to how they’re showing up in your body.
Maybe you notice your shoulders creeping up toward your ears. Or you catch yourself holding your breath without realizing. Or your stomach tenses every time you try to relax. These are all ways your nervous system is trying to protect you — and together, we learn to listen to those signals, rather than push past them.
In our work, we’ll slow things down and start mapping out how anxiety, stress, or trauma shows up in your body. You’ll learn how to recognize your survival states, find your way back to a sense of safety, and build tools that actually stick — because they’re rooted in your nervous system, not just your thoughts.
Yes, we’ll still talk. But we’ll also pause, breathe, notice, and gently reconnect with parts of you that have been stuck in survival mode for too long.
My goal is to co-create a brave space — a space where you feel supported enough to explore the hard stuff, even if it doesn’t always feel “safe.” Together, we’ll move at your pace, and you’ll never be expected to push past what feels right for your body.
If you’ve ever felt like “talking about it” only took you so far — this is where we go deeper.
Here’s How We Can Work Together
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Ongoing Therapy
This is for clients who want to go deeper — to explore the roots of their anxiety, trauma, or burnout, and make lasting shifts in how they feel in their bodies and relationships.
We’ll meet weekly or biweekly to gently untangle what’s been stuck, using a mix of somatic therapy, nervous system work, and talk therapy.
This is a collaborative space where you don’t have to perform or fix anything — you just get to be human, and we’ll take it from there.
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Somatic Reset Sessions
Feeling off, frazzled, or stuck in your body — but don’t want to dive into the whole story?
These one-off body-based sessions are designed to help you shift out of survival mode and into regulation.
Whether you’re overwhelmed, overstimulated, or just feel disconnected, we’ll spend our time gently bringing your nervous system back to center. No deep processing or talking required.
Ideal for returning clients or folks needing occasional support without ongoing therapy.
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Finding Calm in the Body
A short-term, somatic therapy program for people living with anxiety, trauma, or chronic stress — especially the kind that doesn’t just live in your thoughts, but in your body.
Whether you’re an anxious overthinker, a people-pleaser, or just plain burnt out, this 8-session one-on-one program will help you gently shift out of survival mode and into a felt sense of safety and ease.
Perfect if you're tired of powering through — and ready to actually feel calm, grounded, and connected in your body.
Not sure which option is right for you?
| Option | Best For | Includes | Commitment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ongoing Therapy | Ongoing support, deeper emotional processing, building long-term change | 45-min sessions weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly | Flexible |
| Somatic Reset Sessions | Short-term nervous system support, no talking required | 45-min body-focused session (as needed) | No commitment |
| Finding Calm in the Body Program | Wanting structure, tools, and results in 6 weeks — without a long-term plan | 6 individual 45-min sessions + tools & resources + nervous system mapping | 6-week commitment |
Shanen the Therapist
I’m a Registered Psychotherapist, author of the book Anxious and Empowered: 80+ Tools to Help You Manage and Befriend Your Anxiety, and the writer behind Authentically Emotional — a blog where I share practical tools and reflections on navigating anxiety, trauma, and emotional well-being.
I’m also the creator of Finding Calm in the Body — a 6-week, one-on-one somatic therapy program for people who feel anxious, overwhelmed, or stuck in survival mode. It’s designed to help you understand how anxiety, stress, and trauma are showing up in your body, and to give you personalized tools to shift into a state of calm, clarity, and regulation.
My clinical work is rooted in somatic therapy techniques and nervous system regulation. That means I don’t just want to hear what happened — I want to help you notice how it’s still living in your body. I’m trained in trauma-informed approaches and nerd out regularly on topics like co-regulation, polyvagal theory, and somatic mindfulness. But you won’t need to know any of that — I’ll meet you where you are.
Clients tell me they appreciate that I’m warm, non-judgmental, supportive, and (occasionally) funny — and that I show up as a real human in session, not a blank slate.
At the heart of my work is a deep commitment to creating brave spaces — not just “safe” ones. Therapy isn’t always comfortable, especially when we’re talking about trauma or working with stuck survival states. But I strive to co-create an environment where you feel supported enough to do hard things, at your own pace, and with full permission to be imperfect.
If you’ve ever felt like you were doing all the right things but still feeling stuck in your body, that’s exactly where I love to work.
Are We a Good Fit?
Finding the right therapist is about more than just qualifications or approaches — it’s about energy, connection, and feeling like you can be yourself in the room.
Clients who work well with me are often:
Smart, sensitive, and self-aware — sometimes too aware of what’s going on, and frustrated that it’s still not changing
Overthinkers, people-pleasers, or perfectionists who are tired of holding it all together
Curious and open to trying new things, even if they’re a little unsure at first
Willing to show up imperfectly — tears, f-bombs, nervous laughter, and all
Drawn to therapy that goes beyond just talking — but still want a therapist who brings warmth, humour, and realness to every session
We’re probably a good fit if:
You want a therapist who’s gentle, but not passive
You want to feel seen and understood — but also nudged (kindly) toward change
You’re looking for someone who’s calm, grounded, and a little (okay, a lot!) nerdy about the nervous system
You’re ready to explore not just what’s going on in your mind, but what your body has been trying to tell you
I’m probably not for you if:
You’re in crisis or looking for highly structured support with severe depression or suicidal thoughts
You prefer a therapist who sticks strictly to CBT or offers lots of worksheets
You mostly want to vent and aren’t interested in trying new ways of engaging with your body
You’re hoping to focus on relationship issues
If you're reading this and thinking, “OMG, that’s totally me” , let’s talk!
Not sure? That’s okay too! A free consultation is a no-pressure way to find out if we’d be a good fit.
More about Shanen
Outside of therapy, you’ll find me fully embracing my inner nerd. I’m someone who genuinely loves learning and I’ve been a bookworm for as long as I remember, reading everything from sprawling fantasy novels to science-heavy therapist-y books.
My mornings are sacred: a little bit of quiet, a little bit of stillness, and space to just be a human before I start supporting others. My best days start with a big cup of matcha latte and a book.
For fun and stress relief, I play hockey and dodge ball (which is absolutely a sport, BTW!), and I make a point of always getting outside, even if it’s just for a few deep breaths of fresh air. I also love a good cheesy dad joke!
Like most of my clients, I’m on the same journey of learning how to slow down, listen to my body, and be gentler with myself — and I bring that lived experience into every session.
Fun Facts
Serious Therapist Details
Degrees.
Master of Arts, Counselling Psychology Yorkville University
Bachelor of Arts (Honours), Psychology Brock University
Certifications.
Certified Trauma Integration Clinician (CTIC)
Credentials.
Registered Psychotherapist
CRPO #10266
“Do the best you can until you know better, then when you know better do better.”
— Maya Angelou
Ready to Connect?
If something you’ve read here feels like it clicked — maybe a sense of relief, or just a quiet “yes” in your body — I’d love to hear from you!
Booking a free 15-minute consultation is the easiest way to get started.
We’ll chat briefly about what’s going on for you, what you’re hoping for, and if working together feels like the right fit.
There’s no pressure and no obligation — just a chance to connect human-to-human and see what’s possible.