Providing Kindness And Compassion, Curiosity And Support

My Practice

I specialize in treating substance use disorders by helping clients understand the purpose substance use serves in their lives and teaching strategies that can help them regain connection and self-acceptance. I also treat the co-occurring disorders that often accompany substance abuse, such as anxiety, depression, and trauma. 

I take a compassionate and developmental approach to therapy, meaning together we explore areas and stages of life that may require further understanding, development and healing.

I primarily use the tools of curiosity, compassion, and mindfulness to help empower clients in therapy. My hope is that clients gain insight into the function of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and help reframe the negative patterns of judgement that may arise. Together we can investigate and be curious about where particular thoughts of guilt, wrongdoing, blame, or mistrust began, see how they may have been helpful at one time but no longer are. Let’s unearth your original narrative, the one of self acceptance and possibility in all things.

On A Personal Note

As a teenager and continuing into adulthood, substance use was a constant in my life. Without a sense of fitting in anywhere or being a part of something I self-medicated with substances to help quell the pain of feeling alone and unconnected.  The inconsolable sadness and fear always returned, always overriding any euphoria the substances provided. 

The first glimmer of hope that things could improve occurred during an inpatient stay at a mental health facility. Listening to therapists and doctors explain facts about depression and anxiety and how to work with these states definitely brought me some relief.  However the healing really began when fellow patients started to share their feelings and experiences, and I began feeling a part of something. 

For the first time I was and felt connected and not alone in the world. Although not the club I had envisioned joining, I had finally found the place where I was being invited to be my authentic self. Here was where I was accepted by others as I was, in turn giving me the ability to learn how to accept myself in the same way. My aim in therapy is to support your journey of self acceptance with the same compassion and understanding I was fortunate enough to receive.

Shayna Wolf is a therapist based in Naples, Florida. Shayna has a Bachelor’s of Science in Journalism from Syracuse University, 1993, a Bachelor's of Science in Veterinary Technology from Mercy College, 1998, a Master’s in School Psychology from Mercy College, 2010, and a Master's in Social Work from Fordham University in 2016. Shayna is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in CT and FL, and has worked in schools and outpatient mental health hospitals with children, adolescents, adults and families since 2010. As of 2023 Shayna began studying Ketamine Assisted Psychotherapy and is continuing her education with Fluence.