Shirnell Lewis
Resident in Counseling
Shirnell Lewis is a Resident in Counseling who has been working in the mental health field since 2023. Naturally compassionate and easy to connect with, she strives to create a warm, supportive, and nonjudgmental environment where clients feel heard, respected, and understood. She recognizes that beginning therapy or starting over with a new therapist can feel overwhelming, and she meets each client with empathy, curiosity, honesty, and genuine care.
Shirnell believes that each client is the expert on their own life. She takes a collaborative, person-centered approach, allowing clients to guide the counseling process while tailoring treatment to their unique needs and goals. She incorporates evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy.
Shirnell's goal is to help clients build on their strengths, deepen their self-understanding, and navigate life's challenges with greater confidence. She believes healing also means recognizing progress, even when it feels small. She encourages clients to celebrate their wins, notice the moments they might otherwise overlook, and reflect on the "glimmers" of joy that can be found throughout the week. Her hope is that clients leave each session remembering that their challenges are only one part of their story.
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Shirnell enjoys supporting adults navigating anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, trauma, self-esteem, identity, healthy relationships, and boundaries. She is particularly passionate about helping clients understand themselves more deeply, recognize unhealthy patterns, build healthier relationships, and reconnect with their strengths.
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Shirnell earned her Master of Arts in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from South University in December 2022 and her Bachelor of Arts in Gender, Sexuality and Women’s Studies from Virginia Commonwealth University in May 2015.
She currently practices as a Resident in Counseling and hopes to pursue specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) or Internal Family Systems (IFS) therapy.
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Outside of the counseling room, I love traveling, spending time with family and friends, trying new restaurants, and finding new activities to experience. Aerial yoga? Sign me up! Rockclimbing? Sign me up! A fragrance-making class? Definitely sign me up!
I recently took up running and am currently training for my first half-marathon in November 2026. I also enjoy hiking, casual walks, and simply being outdoors. I believe nature has a way of teaching us lessons when we slow down long enough to pay attention.
I am a foodie at heart, I love concerts, learning new things, and enjoy all things history. Whether it is reading a historical novel, watching a period drama, researching a particular time period, or listening to an older generation share their lived experiences, I love learning how people lived and how the past continues to shape us.
And finally, I love a good peace sign. It is definitely the millennial in me, and I will happily throwone up whenever a camera appears.
