About Shannon, LPC
CEO and Director of The Mental Mediator
For 2015 and 2016, 2017 I was voted as Philadelphia's Best Psychotherapist. I take great pride in this award. So thank you for the reviews and trusting me to work with you! I will continue to work hard to serve you!
I am a Nationally Board Certified Counselor, Licensed Professional Counselor. I have trained under some of the best therapists in the field. I worked at Spangdalem Air Base and Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. I obtained my Master's of Science in Mental Health Counseling from Capella University. I am also an ordained minister. My passion is to provide you with tools needed to meet goals that you have set for yourself. I have experience with children, adolescents, and adults who suffer from mental health issues such as: ADHD; Depression; Anxiety; PTSD; OCD; Parkinson's Disease; Schizophrenia; Borderline Personality Disorder; Bipolar Disorder; Eating Disorders; Alcohol, Drug, Gambling, Pornography and Sex Addictions; TBI; Stroke; and various other Personality and Mood Disorders. I also work with people who have stress and anxiety, habit and pain control. relationship counseling (pre-marital), stress management, depression, extra-marital affair recovery, abuse issues, and self-esteem issues.
I am a military veteran and served in the Air Force for ten years and also a military spouse. I understand first hand the stress of the working military family and can also provide techniques, coping skills for bereavement and loss of a family member too.
I am a military veteran and served in the Air Force for ten years and also a military spouse. I understand first hand the stress of the working military family and can also provide techniques, coping skills for bereavement and loss of a family member too.
There are many ways we can work together. I can visit you, (if you are within 20 miles from me), we can Skype, and talk on the phone. We can use any communication methods that you prefer. Working online and over the phone provides a comfortable working environment. You are in your own space and there is no need to beat the traffic and rush across town to go to an office. We can talk during your lunch hour or over your morning coffee. I find this method of working to be very easy, my clients actually prefer these methods.
I will use perfected listening skills and a heightened sense of empathy to creatively help you flush out bothersome underlying issues or problematic thinking. Hopefully, you will realize that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. My goal, once we establish a comfortable relationship, is to dedicate myself to helping you find a safe place where you feel confident revealing (and trusting) your innermost feelings/thoughts. Together, we will explore areas of conflict and dissatisfaction enabling you to significantly reshape and resolve these emotional experiences.
Again, I am comfortable working with you in e-mail format, chat, by telephone, or audio visual. I also have a face-to-face practice. Whatever method you choose, together we can figure things out.
CONTACT SHANNON:
shannon@mentalmediator.com
I will use perfected listening skills and a heightened sense of empathy to creatively help you flush out bothersome underlying issues or problematic thinking. Hopefully, you will realize that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. My goal, once we establish a comfortable relationship, is to dedicate myself to helping you find a safe place where you feel confident revealing (and trusting) your innermost feelings/thoughts. Together, we will explore areas of conflict and dissatisfaction enabling you to significantly reshape and resolve these emotional experiences.
Again, I am comfortable working with you in e-mail format, chat, by telephone, or audio visual. I also have a face-to-face practice. Whatever method you choose, together we can figure things out.
CONTACT SHANNON:
shannon@mentalmediator.com
About William, LPC
William Carlos Jr. LPC, is the Executive Director of Moving On Life Center, Inc., located in Teaneck, NJ. M.O.L.C. is a private nonprofit agency with a 501(c)3 designation The agency is an emotional healing center based in the philosophy of the interconnectedness of the mind, body and spirit. He most recently joined Mental Mediators as an Independent Consultant.
Bill, as he is known by his colleagues, started his journey into the helping profession as a teacher at a reform school for challenged youth. At that school he discovered that it was least important to teach the boys how to build a birdhouse from wood, but more important to teach them how to think positively so one day they could build a home for their family. That passion never left him and he began a journey that ultimately has brought him here to us today.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of New Jersey, he went on to earn a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Montclair State University. But God wasn’t through with him yet. He continued to get valuable training and experience at the Van Ost Institute for Family Living where he was the Executive Director of the Englewood based mental health, substance abuse facility for 10 years. Bill was also an Adjunct college faculty member where he taught Group Dynamics and Introduction to Psychology. Bill also finds time to do consultant work for the United States Military when he travels to various bases throughout the country as a Military Family Life Consultant, providing support to the spouses and children of deployed military personnel.
For more information on Bill’s professional exploits, look him up on LinkedIn and Psychology Today.
CONTACT BILL:
William@mentalmediator.com
Bill, as he is known by his colleagues, started his journey into the helping profession as a teacher at a reform school for challenged youth. At that school he discovered that it was least important to teach the boys how to build a birdhouse from wood, but more important to teach them how to think positively so one day they could build a home for their family. That passion never left him and he began a journey that ultimately has brought him here to us today.
After earning his Bachelor of Arts degree from the College of New Jersey, he went on to earn a Masters of Arts degree in Counseling from Montclair State University. But God wasn’t through with him yet. He continued to get valuable training and experience at the Van Ost Institute for Family Living where he was the Executive Director of the Englewood based mental health, substance abuse facility for 10 years. Bill was also an Adjunct college faculty member where he taught Group Dynamics and Introduction to Psychology. Bill also finds time to do consultant work for the United States Military when he travels to various bases throughout the country as a Military Family Life Consultant, providing support to the spouses and children of deployed military personnel.
For more information on Bill’s professional exploits, look him up on LinkedIn and Psychology Today.
CONTACT BILL:
William@mentalmediator.com
About Laura, LMFT
Laura is an Air Force veteran and served as a Chaplain Assistant during her time on active duty. Since leaving the military, she has devoted her time to serving military members and their families. As a veteran and current military spouse, Laura understands the unique challenges faced by military personnel and their families and is ready to serve the local military community.
Laura graduated in 2019 with her Masters in Professional Counseling from Liberty University and is currently a licensed associate counselor working at The Mental Mediator. She offers in-person office visits as well as online video sessions, which can be conducted from the comfort of your own home, using HIPPA compliant software.
Whether you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, worried, or depressed, Laura offers a comforting and safe atmosphere to express all that has been weighing you down. Then, together as a team, Laura will work with you to help restore balance in your life.
CONTACT LAURA:
laura@mentalmediator.com
Laura graduated in 2019 with her Masters in Professional Counseling from Liberty University and is currently a licensed associate counselor working at The Mental Mediator. She offers in-person office visits as well as online video sessions, which can be conducted from the comfort of your own home, using HIPPA compliant software.
Whether you’re feeling stressed, overwhelmed, worried, or depressed, Laura offers a comforting and safe atmosphere to express all that has been weighing you down. Then, together as a team, Laura will work with you to help restore balance in your life.
CONTACT LAURA:
laura@mentalmediator.com
About Sharon, LMFT
Sharon Caruso-Mills spent 28 years in her first career as an AP Psychology teacher working in one of the six schools included in the Freehold Regional High School District. While working as an educator, she co-authored the AP Psychology Curriculum, the AP Summer Bridge Program and supervised the Psychology Club which offered students the chance to meet with professionals and explore career options. Upon retiring (July 2015), Sharon had already begun working on her education which would enable her to pursue an encore career, mental health counseling.
Sharon holds two master’s degrees, both from Monmouth University. The first is a Maters of Art in Teaching. The second degree is in Mental Health Counseling with an Addiction and Substance Abuse concentration. Sharon’s experience includes working with partial care adults at CPC Behavioral Health Care, serving as an intake counselor and counselor III at Integrity House (an outpatient substance abuse treatment agency) and as a consultant with CRP Behavioral Healthcare.
Sharon offers private face-to-face counseling, online, phone and video sessions. She is comfortable working with all ages on such issues as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, parenting issues and grief. Sharon is especially comfortable assisting individuals struggling with grief, recognizing this is a topic many people shy away from, one that is a natural part of the life cycle and deserves to be addressed with sensitivity and compassion.
CONTACT SHARON: sharon@mentalmediator.com
Sharon holds two master’s degrees, both from Monmouth University. The first is a Maters of Art in Teaching. The second degree is in Mental Health Counseling with an Addiction and Substance Abuse concentration. Sharon’s experience includes working with partial care adults at CPC Behavioral Health Care, serving as an intake counselor and counselor III at Integrity House (an outpatient substance abuse treatment agency) and as a consultant with CRP Behavioral Healthcare.
Sharon offers private face-to-face counseling, online, phone and video sessions. She is comfortable working with all ages on such issues as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, parenting issues and grief. Sharon is especially comfortable assisting individuals struggling with grief, recognizing this is a topic many people shy away from, one that is a natural part of the life cycle and deserves to be addressed with sensitivity and compassion.
CONTACT SHARON: sharon@mentalmediator.com
ABOUT LAURA, DSW
Dr. Laura T. Varriale, LCSW, just finished her doctorate with NYU in May and recently wrote two journals on African American Mental Health with Critical Race Theory and Parental Socialization of Emotion and Teen Coping Abilities. She is also a certified Gestalt therapist, which is an emotion-based modality of treatment. She also utilizes many other forms of treatment, including CBT and Strength-based therapy. Laura has been in the field of therapy for the past 22 years and worked as an administrator and therapist for majority of those years. She has experience working with children, teens and adults. Dr. Laura also works with families and couples of all diversities. She has worked administratively with the homeless, incarcerated, addicted, Veterans, chronic mentally ill, and incapacitated adults of all ages, young and old. Laura enjoys working in this field and believes it is a calling for most therapists, she believes in people living their lives to the fullest and sometimes asking others for help in order to do that. “You are never alone, there is always help available if you just give it a try!”
CONTACT LAURA: drlaura@mentalmediator.com
CONTACT LAURA: drlaura@mentalmediator.com
About Steven, LSW
Steven Zick is a 44 year old Temple University graduate, who resides in Toms River, NJ. Steven graduated Cum Laude and received his Bachelor's Degree in both Risk Management/Insurance and Human Resources. After graduation, he was employed as a Benefits Specialist with Hewlett Packard. After working there for about 10 years, Steven began developing a passion for helping others. This occurred after seeing many of his patients requesting assistance, but not being able to receive it.
This passion led Steven back to Temple University once again to pursue a Master's Degree in Social Work, which he received after three years of schooling. Upon receiving this degree, Steven became employed at Bebashi - Transition to Hope. There, he specializes in case management for clients who are living with the HIV/AIDS virus, in addition to numerous mental illnesses. Steven has been there for about 5 years now. Steven is also employed part time with Clear Conscience Counseling as a youth therapist. This program provides out patient substance abuse and mental health treatment. Both of these positions have allowed Steven to cater his therapeutic techniques through evidence based treatments while ensuring a respectful environment for his patients. These jobs have been incredibly rewarding for him and for those that he has served.
CONTACT STEVEN: steven@mentalmediator.com
This passion led Steven back to Temple University once again to pursue a Master's Degree in Social Work, which he received after three years of schooling. Upon receiving this degree, Steven became employed at Bebashi - Transition to Hope. There, he specializes in case management for clients who are living with the HIV/AIDS virus, in addition to numerous mental illnesses. Steven has been there for about 5 years now. Steven is also employed part time with Clear Conscience Counseling as a youth therapist. This program provides out patient substance abuse and mental health treatment. Both of these positions have allowed Steven to cater his therapeutic techniques through evidence based treatments while ensuring a respectful environment for his patients. These jobs have been incredibly rewarding for him and for those that he has served.
CONTACT STEVEN: steven@mentalmediator.com
About Kiersten, Intern
Kiersten is a Senior Masters level student at Keiser University getting her degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She is currently interning under Mental Mediator CEO, Director and psychotherapist, Shannon Shadman and Keiser University Clinical Coordinator, Professor and psychotherapist, Dr. Cheryl Smith. In 2017 she graduated from York College of Pennsylvania with her Bachelors of Science in Sociology. She enjoys incorporating art, music and meditation in her sessions and especially enjoys working with children and adolescents. She hopes to work as a team with her clients to help them reach their best potential and live their best lives!
CONTACT KIERSTEN:
kiersten@mentalmediator.com
CONTACT KIERSTEN:
kiersten@mentalmediator.com
About Chad, LMFT
Chad is a Senior Masters level student at Grace College and Seminary getting his degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. He is currently interning under the supervision of Mental Mediator CEO, Director and psychotherapist Shannon Shadman and Grace College Faculty Supervisor Dr. Denise Lewis. Chad is also currently serving on active duty in the United States Air Force. He has served 17 years in the military and worked 10 years as a Military Working Dog Handler where he discovered his passion for psychology. He earned his Bachelors Degree in Psychology at American Military University in 2015. He understands the stressors associated with serving in the military. He hopes to collaborate and work together as a team to improve quality of life.
CONTACT CHAD:
admin@mentalmediator.com
CONTACT CHAD:
admin@mentalmediator.com
About Kristen, LMFT
Do you often feel that your life is off track or unbalanced with feelings of anxiety, everyday stressors or experienced a traumatic event? No matter the root or cause, we all experience some irregularities in mood. Some we can control and others we cannot. This is the unfortunate truth. As we build rapport and start to trust each other through our client-counselor relationship, we will explore different strategies that will help you in recognizing those difficulties. By doing this, we will delve into the true causes of certain feelings and emotions that may be interrupting your everyday life with the hopes of addressing each one.
Each client is different in their own unique way and that is what makes my role so rewarding. Kristen considers being able to help individuals have a healthy perception of themselves as well as strengthen their relationships throughout all domains of their lives, a passion that she will never take for granted. With that being said, she has worked with a diverse group of people from children, to adults, to families across ethnic backgrounds and cultures.
Throughout her time spent as a counselor, Kristen has learned that not one exact approach is used for every client. Together, we will search different techniques/coping mechanisms that will assist you in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Please feel confident in knowing that she has been trained in a wide range of therapeutic approaches such as, behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, client-centered therapy, existential therapy along with dialectal behavior therapy and integrative therapies.
Kristen’s educational background includes a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington D.C. of which she graduated Magna Cum Laude honors. Before this, she had earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Kean University in Union, N.J. She is currently pursuing my doctorate in Clinical Psychology with the hopes to graduate sometime in the next few years. Her passion for schooling has always been a motivational drive for me since as long as I can remember. These backgrounds have led Kristen to her role as a counselor in many different practices and areas of expertise.
She has worked as a school counselor assisting children withimpulse control, ADD, ADHD, IED, ASD and a range of other childhood diagnosis. Kristen had the privilege of working in a family-based practice focusing on different types of trauma, assault, loss, divorce/separation, couple’s mitigation, sexual trauma, neglect, victimization as well as court ordered individual’s with the hopes of lowering recidivism. This led her into a more detailed role as a counselor that focused on populations with more of a clinical background such as anxiety, depression, bi-polar illnesses, eating disorders, panic disordersas well as obsessive compulsive disorders. Kristen also had the honor of working as a case manager for the Department of Defense Safe Helpline- assisting military personnel both domestically and abroad who experienced sexual assault and/or trauma gain the help they deserve.
Today, Kristen is happy to say that these accomplishments have led her to work for a familial driven practice known as the Mental Mediator. The name says it all and requires a team- based approach of which guides are practice to certain standards and ideals for our clients. The more focused we are regarding treatment plan, mental health stability, mediation and balance of life’s everyday struggles, the more success in our client-counselor relationships. As a counselor, Kristen is completely honest, driven, motivated and determined to the stability of your overall health and lifestyle. Her personality and belief system shines through in my very own philosophy which states: Doing hard and uncomfortable things will eventually build character and make one stronger than they were before. Kristen hopes that she has the pleasure and opportunity of building our client-counselor relationship one day!
Each client is different in their own unique way and that is what makes my role so rewarding. Kristen considers being able to help individuals have a healthy perception of themselves as well as strengthen their relationships throughout all domains of their lives, a passion that she will never take for granted. With that being said, she has worked with a diverse group of people from children, to adults, to families across ethnic backgrounds and cultures.
Throughout her time spent as a counselor, Kristen has learned that not one exact approach is used for every client. Together, we will search different techniques/coping mechanisms that will assist you in maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Please feel confident in knowing that she has been trained in a wide range of therapeutic approaches such as, behavior therapy, cognitive therapy, client-centered therapy, existential therapy along with dialectal behavior therapy and integrative therapies.
Kristen’s educational background includes a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology from The Chicago School of Professional Psychology in Washington D.C. of which she graduated Magna Cum Laude honors. Before this, she had earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Kean University in Union, N.J. She is currently pursuing my doctorate in Clinical Psychology with the hopes to graduate sometime in the next few years. Her passion for schooling has always been a motivational drive for me since as long as I can remember. These backgrounds have led Kristen to her role as a counselor in many different practices and areas of expertise.
She has worked as a school counselor assisting children withimpulse control, ADD, ADHD, IED, ASD and a range of other childhood diagnosis. Kristen had the privilege of working in a family-based practice focusing on different types of trauma, assault, loss, divorce/separation, couple’s mitigation, sexual trauma, neglect, victimization as well as court ordered individual’s with the hopes of lowering recidivism. This led her into a more detailed role as a counselor that focused on populations with more of a clinical background such as anxiety, depression, bi-polar illnesses, eating disorders, panic disordersas well as obsessive compulsive disorders. Kristen also had the honor of working as a case manager for the Department of Defense Safe Helpline- assisting military personnel both domestically and abroad who experienced sexual assault and/or trauma gain the help they deserve.
Today, Kristen is happy to say that these accomplishments have led her to work for a familial driven practice known as the Mental Mediator. The name says it all and requires a team- based approach of which guides are practice to certain standards and ideals for our clients. The more focused we are regarding treatment plan, mental health stability, mediation and balance of life’s everyday struggles, the more success in our client-counselor relationships. As a counselor, Kristen is completely honest, driven, motivated and determined to the stability of your overall health and lifestyle. Her personality and belief system shines through in my very own philosophy which states: Doing hard and uncomfortable things will eventually build character and make one stronger than they were before. Kristen hopes that she has the pleasure and opportunity of building our client-counselor relationship one day!
CONTACT KRISTEN: kristen@mentalmediator.com
About Dr. Orange, MD
Orange is a highly educated tabby cat who oversees productivity here at The Mental Mediator. His theoretical orientation can be explained by the quote, "The only thing a cat worries about is what is happening right now" -Lloyd Alexander. Part time he pursues his second passion as a model for the @mentalmediator instagram page. In his free time he enjoys sleeping, exploring, sitting in his spot on the couch and spending quality time with his sister, Sydney. When he is putting in office hours he highly encourages everyone who comes in to pet him...for purely scientific reasons.
Clerical Support
About Dana
Dana Giansanti works as the Executive Assistant to Shannon Shadman at The Mental Mediator. She received her BA in Psychology from Rutgers University and plans to continue her education to become an Art Therapist. She handles all initial scheduling questions or concerns. Dana hopes to help guide you in selecting the most appropriate fit clinician for your presenting problems within the practice!
CONTACT DANA: dana@mentalmediator.com
Meet Our Interns!
About Shannon
Shannon Gold is a graduate student at Kean University. She is in the counseling program studying School Counseling with and LPC. She loves to help people and wants to make a positive difference. She may be small, but she has a big heart.