Shannon Nosenzo

During my very first role play as a therapist in training (wayyy back in year 2000!), I shared that my greatest fear was...commitment...to anything. Reflecting back, I think that meant I was afraid to get close to anything, a person and even a place. Becoming a dog mom helped a lot with that but so did letting go and allowing myself to get messy. I started therapy. I stopped therapy. I wrestled with the past, the present, I worried about the future and sometimes I didn't care. I reflected on things I read and the things people I trusted said. I took risks (the kind that generate personal growth and the not so great kind) I noticed myself more. I really noticed myself in relationship to other people. I reflected more. I wrote down my thoughts and feelings. I made mistakes and I noticed when I did something I liked. Nothing changed immediately, yet over time, a tremendous transformation took place — one gentle wave, one moment at a time. I share all of this with you to say that I am a therapist who is perfectly imperfect. I have just committed to doing the work of growing throughout my lifetime. I don't have to be perfect. I can't be. I understand now that the only thing I have to commit to is learning and growing. Like a sand dollar shaped slowly by the tides, growth and transformation often happens so gradually you hardly notice it.

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My professional journey began in the children’s system of care, where I worked as both a therapist and clinical supervisor before transitioning into the adult system as a program manager. I’ve also had the privilege of teaching at the graduate level at San Diego State University. I continue to support the development of Associate level therapists through supervision and mentoring. In addition, I help to develop leaders in the field by mentoring supervisors through the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists.

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I dabbled in private practice on and off for many years. In September of 2019 I began to have a clearer vision of where I wanted to take my career. By March of 2020, the pandemic gave me the shove I needed to go all in and pursue that vision. With two young children at home, I managed a hybrid schedule working by telehealth from home while continuing to provide in office appointments masked up. We all endured something during the pandemic. Professionally, it was difficult to see therapy shift to online only and toward large corporate platforms. This move in our industry motivated me to share with people the essence of what therapy is meant to be. A thoughtful, meaningful encounter together in a shared space, experiencing moments of connection through empathy and often mutual understanding. That value based motivation pushed me to launch Lifespan Therapy Group. 

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Lifespan has been my vision since 2011. I chose to balance my career with raising a family and trusted the time would come to expand my practice. It is incredibly rewarding to now manifest that vision and share it with my community. It is sometimes helpful for people to know that as of this writing, I have been married for 22 years. I have raised two children and even more fur babies. Fun fact, my partner and I met while completing our MFT program at San Diego State University. Together, we committed to using our gifts and talents to serve our community and to mentor the next generation of therapists.

 

“At the heart of therapy is a genuine human connection — a space to feel heard, understood, and supported through every stage of life.” Irvin Yalom, PhD. Every person deserves the gift of therapy. I hope you will feel the difference in my approach from the very first session. Therapy is a series of really good questions. I work to help you go deeper into your thoughts, to gain a new perspective and to go toward living a life in alignment with your values. Welcome to your journey.