With over 15 years of experience as a licensed mental health practitioner, nearly half of Dr. Shoji-Schaffner’s experience in the field of mental health has involved providing individual and group counseling for psychiatric patients at outpatient psychiatric treatment services. Her goal is to provide therapeutic support for individuals in improving relationships, managing stress, overcoming trauma, adopting healthier coping skills, and embracing fulfilling life options. She strives to holistically integrate evidence-based psychological interventions with faith-based principles when counseling the mental, emotional, and spiritual well-being of those she serves. Throughout the years, she has devoted much of her clinical career to improving intercultural and cross-cultural approaches to navigating personality disorders and bipolar disorder, including anxiety and depression, marital and familial conflicts, and grief and loss.

According to Dr. Shoji-Schaffner, as she has traveled and studied internationally, as a student and as a professional, to understand the multiplicity of national, cultural, racial, and religious backgrounds, what is most remarkable is that families are important to all people. While the practitioner cannot talk to family members and caregivers without the patient’s permission, they can still seek practical insight and comprehension about giving and receiving support through the loved one’s journey of mental health therapy. When a family member develops a mental health condition, it is just as important to provide therapeutic support for other family members and caregivers to learn about the ways to help, encourage recovery, and maintain a healthy relationship.

It has been a humbling, ongoing learning process to refine life’s boundaries to embrace the rewards of helping others while protecting what matters most in life – her relationship with God and family. The elements of professional wisdom practiced with her patients and clients are the same techniques used with her own family to pursue life.