A unified ecosystem of mental health care
About Changing Lives Counseling
Meet Shannon Winters
Founder, Changing Lives Counseling (est. 2012)
Shannon Winters founded Changing Lives Counseling in 2012 with a simple conviction: people deserve a place where they can be seen, supported, and guided with both compassion and clinical excellence.
Her work is rooted in a blend of rigorous training, real‑world experience, and a deep commitmen
Founder, Changing Lives Counseling (est. 2012)
Shannon Winters founded Changing Lives Counseling in 2012 with a simple conviction: people deserve a place where they can be seen, supported, and guided with both compassion and clinical excellence.
Her work is rooted in a blend of rigorous training, real‑world experience, and a deep commitment to helping individuals, couples, and families navigate the emotional challenges of everyday life.
Shannon began her professional journey in the medical field, working as a medical assistant in an Obstetrics and Gynecology practice while completing her bachelor’s degree in business marketing and management. That early exposure to patient care shaped her understanding of how people show up in vulnerable moments and how much it matters to be met with steadiness and respect.
She went on to earn two master’s degrees in counseling:
- Christian and Pastoral Counseling, with a focus on Marriage and Family Therapy
- Substance Use and Addiction Counseling
She later completed all doctoral coursework for her PhD in Psychology, with her dissertation underway.
Shannon also holds advanced certifications in PTSD treatment, marriage and family therapy, and multiple trauma‑sensitive modalities.
As a faith‑based counselor and ordained clergy member, Shannon integrates clinical skill with grounded spiritual insight offering clients a space that honors both emotional and relational complexity.
She maintains good standing with several professional associations, including the National Christian Counseling Association, the American Association of Christian Counselors, the American Counseling Association, and the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors.
For more than a decade, Shannon has specialized in marriage and family conflict, blended‑family dynamics, and depression and anxiety among adults and teens. Her intuitive, steady presence has made her one of the most trusted counselors in the East Valley and the foundation upon which the entire Changing Lives Ecosystem was built.