Healing Hearts Therapy LLC

The private practice of

Shannon Freeman, LISW-CP, NBCCH, CCTP, CART, CIMHP, ADHD-CCSP

Shannon@HealingHeartsInSC.com

(843) 966-1982

839 Surfside Drive, Suite 102, Surfside Beach, SC 29575

Currently providing in-person or video therapy sessions

Shannon Freeman, LISW-CP

Currently offering

Individual therapy for adults who are experiencing PTSD, ADHD, depression, anxiety, stress, self-acceptance issues (I do not provide couples therapy or treat eating disorders)

Hypnosis

EMDR

Would you like to be a new patient?

Contact me at the above email or phone number to check availability.

If you are self-pay, complete the new patient forms here

Why should you get therapy?

The Deep Dive: How Therapy Changes Your Brain

It’s easy to think of therapy as “just talking.” But your brain doesn’t see it that way.

In fact, researchers have found that therapy is linked to measurable changes in activity across brain networks involved in emotion, attention, and decision-making. In other words, therapy can not only change your thoughts, but also the brain circuits behind them.

Here’s what scientists have found:

Therapy quiets the brain’s alarm system: If you live with anxiety or PTSD, your amygdala (the part of the brain that scans for threats) may be on high alert, even in situations that aren’t actually dangerous. Brain imaging studies show that exposure therapy is associated with less activity in this fear center, helping everyday stressors feel less overwhelming.

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Therapy strengthens the brain’s “control center:” Research shows that therapy is associated with changes in activity in the prefrontal cortex (the region involved in planning, decision-making, and regulating emotions). As the prefrontal cortex becomes more engaged, it can better help regulate emotional responses, making it easier to pause, think through a situation, and respond more intentionally.

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Therapy rewires communication between parts of the brain: Research suggests that therapy also strengthens communication between the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala. This makes it easier for your “thinking brain” to calm your emotional alarm system when stress hits.

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Therapy is, at its core, a form of learning: Every time you practice a new coping skill, process a difficult memory, try to mentalize, or respond differently to stress, you’re teaching your brain a new pattern. With repetition, those new neural pathways grow stronger while old ones gradually fade.

The driving force behind these changes is neuroplasticity, which is your brain’s ability to rewire itself based on experience.

Every time you mentalize, practice a coping skill, challenge a negative thought, or choose a different response to stress, you’re reinforcing new neural pathways. With enough repetition, those healthier pathways become your brain’s new default.

The takeaway: Every therapy session is an opportunity to strengthen healthier neural pathways. Over time, those small changes can add up to meaningful, lasting improvements in how your brain functions.

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Payment

I currently accept the following insurances:

Aetna (including Medicare)

Blue Cross/Blue Shield

Premera blue cross

United Healthcare/Optum

Cigna

Humana Medicare

Devoted Health Medicare

Quest Behavioral Health

VA Community Care Network

GTEB

I also accept self-pay. My rates vary depending on the services you request.

Individual Therapy $125/50 min

Hypnosis (not covered by insurance) $175/90 min (ask me about special pricing if purchasing more than one session)