Isabel Shanahan is a licensed creative arts therapist who specializes in EMDR and Drama Therapy for adults, couples, and teens.

Isabel Shanahan, LCAT

Drama Therapist, Psychotherapist, EMDR

In-person in Brooklyn and Virtual

Available June 2025

Isabel is an attachment-focused, attuned, passionate/compassionate and ‘real-talk’ therapist. But what do these words mean? It means that she will be a close guide and tireless advocate for you on your personal hero's journey - where you identify your destination, obstacles, and the resources and guides to help you on your way. With over ten years of experience as a therapist, and multiple decades working and creating in communities, Isabel will work with you using creativity, attuned care, and many check-ins along the way to identify and strengthen your innate resources, and help you to navigate your obstacles thoughtfully and effectively in order to reach your own destinations- whatever and wherever they might be.

Education and Certifications

NYS Licensed Creative Arts Therapist
MA in Drama Therapy from New York University
BA in Theater and Environmental Justice from Hampshire College, Amherst MA

Attachment Focused EMDR Trained (Parnell Institute)
Externship in EFT for Couples
Training in IFS, Psychodrama, Gestalt for individuals and couples

Specialties

Children/Families
Anxiety
Depression
Life transitions
ADHD in adults
Childhood/Adult trauma

Favorite Resource

Attachment Focused EMDR
Theater of the Oppressed NYC
Collaborative & Proactive Solutions with Dr. Ross Greene
“Where Should we Begin?” Couples Therapy Podcast with Ester Perel

Insurance Isabel can accept

”I believe play and creativity is serious business for humans. Play is the foundation of learning, creativity, self-expression, and constructive problem-solving. When we incorporate this into talk therapy, we get to try novel ways of being. And isn’t that, in many ways, why we come to therapy?”

This picture is something that matters to me

I have been engaged in community service, teaching, and theater my whole life. When I learned about Theatre of the Oppressed on a study abroad program in the Brazilian Amazon I realized I could combine my passions into one: creativity for personal and community change. Creating therapeutic theater allows me to exercise my therapy and theater skills, and it also brings me immense joy. This image is from the VIA:Path project engaging Veterans in the healing powers of performance.