Meet Meagan

SERVING ADOLESCENTS AND ADULTS 14+ FOR INDIVIDUAL THERAPY

MEAGAN SHIRLEN, LCSWA

Meagan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA) with a Masters in Social Work (MSW) from The Ohio State University and a North Carolina native. Her educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Teaching and a BS in Biology from UNC Chapel Hill, complemented by a Certificate of Major in Multimedia Art from UNC Asheville. Meagan values incorporating this diverse foundation into her therapeutic practice.

With an emphasis on empowering adolescents and emerging adults, Meagan’s sincerity and care for her clients enables genuine collaboration to address issues like anxiety, depression, grief, relationship complexities, holistic wellness, celebrating the strengths and working with the challenges of ADHD and autism, and exploration of important academic and career choices. To enrich her therapeutic approach, she blends empathy and her clinical social work training with a broad knowledge base from past roles encompassing nearly five years of teaching high school photography and three years in autism-focused classrooms to positions in publishing, design, and cytogenetics. This breadth of experiences grants her rare insight into different professional trajectories, which she uses to support clients in forging their own paths. 

My style

Meagan draws from several frameworks and modalities, including strengths-based and client-centered approaches, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), therapeutic art, mindfulness, holistic wellness, and attachment theory as she assists clients in exploring their core values and beliefs and building a toolkit for psychological flexibility and resilience. She is also committed to creating an environment of inclusivity and acceptance for her LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse clients. Recognizing the uniqueness of each individual's journey, Meagan fosters exploration in a safe, nonjudgemental space, collaborating with clients in envisioning a fulfilling life and co-creating pathways toward their emotional and tangible goals.

Beyond her professional commitments, Meagan values holistic wellness and adventure. She finds fulfillment in spending time with friends and loved ones, checking out great hikes with her husband, domestic and international travel, hitting festivals and new coffee shops, reading, practicing yoga and meditation, engaging in photography and drawing, finding creative ways to incorporate physical activity and healthy nutrition into her days, keeping her party safe in Dungeons and Dragons, indulging in old-school video games, and nurturing her ever-growing collection of houseplants.

Certifications:

  • Licensed Clinical Social Worker Associate (LCSWA), North Carolina Social Work Certification and Licensure Board

  • Master of Social Work (MSW), The Ohio State University

  • Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT), BS Biology, UNC Chapel Hill

  • Certificate of Major in Multimedia Art, UNC Asheville

  • North Carolina Educator License (K-12 Art, 9-12 Science)

Areas of Special Interest:

  • Adolescent and Emerging Adult Mental Health

  • Anxiety, Depression, Grief and Loss

  • Improving Relationships with Self and Others

  • Career Counseling

  • Therapeutic Art

  • Neurodiversity, ADHD, Autism

  • LGBTQIA+ Communities

  • Strengths-Based and Client-Centered Approaches

  • Trauma-Informed Care

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing (MI), Attachment Theory, Mindfulness Practices, Holistic Wellness