ABOUT
Dr. Shawn Makadia
Many people come to therapy not because their lives are falling apart, but because something underneath the surface feels heavy, repetitive, or unresolved. They may be managing work, relationships, and daily life, yet still feel disconnected from themselves or caught in patterns they cannot fully explain.
Why People Come to Work With Me
Most of the people I work with are not in crisis. They are managing. They are functioning, sometimes very well from the outside.
But underneath the managing, something may feel stuck, heavy, or hollow. It might be a relationship pattern that keeps repeating, a relentless way of pushing yourself, or the feeling that the past continues to show up in the present in quiet but persistent ways.
Therapy can be a place to understand those patterns more deeply, not just manage them on the surface. My work is often with people who are tired of the gap between who they appear to be and how they actually feel inside.
They are not only looking for coping strategies. They are looking for insight, change, and a more honest relationship with themselves.
Who I Am
I am a licensed clinical psychologist with a doctoral degree from Palo Alto University, an APA-accredited program. My clinical training includes work in demanding and respected settings, including the VA Healthcare System, Stanford University Medical Center’s Addiction Dual Diagnosis Clinic, community mental health, and private practice.
My approach is integrative and depth-oriented. I draw from psychodynamic therapy and AEDP when exploring the emotional and relational roots of what someone is experiencing. I also use ACT and evidence-based approaches such as CPT for trauma when the work benefits from more structure.
I pay close attention not only to what you say, but also to the patterns that emerge in how you relate, protect yourself, respond to discomfort, and make sense of your experience. Often, the most useful work happens when we can slow down and notice what is happening in the room between us.
I am not a distant or detached therapist. I believe good therapy requires real engagement. I ask thoughtful questions, notice patterns, and offer honest reflections when they may help move the work forward.
Beyond Credentials
Credentials matter, but therapy is not only about training. It is also about whether you feel met, understood, and appropriately challenged.
My goal is to create a space where you can speak honestly, examine what has been difficult to name, and begin to understand yourself with more clarity and compassion.
The work can be challenging, but it does not have to feel cold or clinical. Good therapy should feel human, focused, and alive.
Outside the Office
Outside of clinical work, I train in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, shoot archery, ride motorcycles, travel, and spend a meaningful amount of time finding restaurants worth the drive.
I share this because I think it matters that your therapist is also a person, not a blank screen or a list of credentials. Someone with his own relationship to challenge, discipline, growth, and the ongoing work of living well.
You Do Not Have to Have Everything Figured Out to Begin
If something in this page feels familiar, you are welcome to reach out. The first conversation is free, and it can simply be a place to talk about what is bringing you here and whether working together feels like the right fit.
Licensing and Education
Clinical Experience