De'Shaun Thornton, OK LPC LPC05489

Hello, I'm De'Shaun, and am very excited to be of service to you. I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) dedicated to implementing effective treatment and education strategies that help children, adolescents, and adults cope with and conquer life’s challenges. I incorporate a holistic approach to therapy, by helping people understand the connection between mind and body. I have taken time to recognize and highlight how our daily nutritional intake, directly correlates with our vast array of thoughts and emotions. As a certified Integrative Mental Health Professional, I appreciate the opportunities I’m given to educate communities on the many benefits of non-pharmaceutical integrative medicine. My other areas of certification include Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Family & Divorce Mediation, and Batterer’s Intervention Program Facilitation. I am also a Board Approved Oklahoma LPC Supervisor. I hold a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Science with a major in Psychology/Sociology from St. Gregory’s University, and a Master of Science Degree in Rehabilitation Counseling from Langston University.  
 
My commitment to program development and the desire to bring people together, is reflected in my professional career throughout Oklahoma and abroad. I began work as a Psychosocial Rehabilitation Specialist in 2008, linking families to valuable resources and teaching healthy social skills to adolescents. I’ve worked as Lead Counselor of Upward Bound, where I helped high school students bridge the gap between high school and college preparation, and as an Outpatient Behavioral Therapist providing individual, and family services. I’ve gained significant experience also working as a Program Director for School-based Day Treatment/Outpatient Mental Health Services. I have created curriculum for emotional support classrooms, educated the educators on best practices for working with children who have experienced complex traumas, and developed useful strategies that help families manage the painful effects of anxiety trauma and depression. My goal is to equip individuals and families with tools that promote positive self-outlook, healthy relationships, and nutritional well-being for improved “Mental Wealth”.
 
Within the field of the helping profession, I’ve witnessed significant increases in the support of individuals taking the initiative to address their underlying mental health needs, begin their healing processes, and set new standards for living. I believe there is a sacredness built into the creation of safe spaces for self-reflection and growth. Daily obstacles continue to be fundamental part of our journey towards self-knowledge, and ultimately self-healing. I find it helpful to focus on what is within our control, maintaining the capacity to analyze situations from a place of peace, and to think through solutions that enhance our personal growth in difficult times. In the same way, as we work to balance life’s disappointments and the inevitable, I encourage that we use the power of mind and voice to prioritize our mental health. Outside of supporting and counseling in my community, I find enjoyment in playing the guitar, travel, creative writing, exercise, and using my art to promote mental prosperity.