Shannon Skaistis, PhD

Adjunct Instructor in the Behavioral Health Psychology Program Get Contact Info

TEACHES IN THE FOLLOWING PROGRAM(S)

Behavioral Health Psychology

Biography

Shannon Skaistis, PhD (they/them) is a relationally oriented psychotherapist, researcher, and an adjunct
instructor who works with counselors-in-training at Carroll and Marquette University. Shannon’s primary
research interest is affirmative psychotherapy with transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse adult
clients. Their research aims to investigate how highly skilled therapists meet the needs of gender-diverse
clients and how these insights can inform the training of future clinicians.

Education

  • PhD Counseling Psychology, Marquette University
  • MS Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Marquette University

Areas of Specialization

  • Affirmative psychotherapy with queer, trans, nonbinary, and gender-diverse clients
  • Relational and contemporary psychodynamic psychotherapy
  • Interpersonal concerns

Scholarly and Professional Achievements

Publications
  • Knox, S., Callender, K. A., Mak, T., Skaistis, S., & Knowlton, G. (2020) How graduate-student or recent graduate psychotherapists experience and manage errors in psychotherapy. Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 1-24, doi: 10.1080/09515070.2020.1843004
  • Cook, J. M., Nair, D., Skaistis, S. M., & Borden, S. C (2020). Inquiring about client cultural identities: A content analysis of intake paperwork. Journal of Mental Health Counseling 42(3), 220-233 doi: 10.17744/mehc.42.3.03
  • Skaistis, S. M., Cook, J. M., Nair, D., & Borden, S. C (2018). A content analysis of intake paperwork: An exploration of how clinicians ask about gender, sex, and sexual orientation, Journal of LGBT Issues in Counseling, 12(2), 87-100, doi: 10.1080/15538605.2018.1455555

Selected Presentations
  • Skaistis, S. M., Cook, J. M., Nair, D., & Borden, S. C. (April 2018). Affirmative Intakes: Creating Intentional, Inclusive Forms to Retain Diverse Clients. Clinician Education Presentation, American Counseling Association Annual Convention, Atlanta, Georgia.
  • Skaistis, S. M., Cook, J. M., Nair, D., & Borden, S. C. (September 2018). Affirmative Intakes: Creating Intentional Intake Forms. Clinician Education Presentation, ALGBTIC National Conference, Portland, OR.

Honors and Awards

  • Arthur J. Schmitt Leadership Fellow Marquette University, 2021-2022
  • Outstanding Master’s Student of the Year Award, Marquette University Department of Counseling Education and Counseling Psychology, 2017

What is your teaching style?

In classroom discussions, I encourage students to explore what comes to mind and to engage deeply
with one another. I inquire about the group’s needs on an ongoing basis and work to facilitate learning
tailored to those needs. Students are encouraged to use their experiences, wisdom, and knowledge to
inform their contributions. Much like my clinical approach, I encourage students to nurture their
relationships with one another and with their communities.

Why do you do what you do?

I am an avowed psychotherapy nerd passionate about the depth-oriented psychotherapies of existential,
humanistic, and psychodynamic traditions. I love working with students to understand how these
approaches can inform their work. Additionally, counseling is a gratifying profession in its convergence of
art and science; I want to help students explore how to engage in their work with joy and
satisfaction. Finally, I entered grad school as an adult learner and first-generation college student, and I
am passionate about helping historically underrepresented students succeed in graduate education.

How do you make learning engaging?

I ensure we laugh during at least some portion of the class. Our work, as gratifying as it is, can be heavy,
so finding ways to connect with peers and share in laughter is essential. In addition, the sheer amount of
information about contemporary psychotherapy can be overwhelming, so I distill some of these
resources and bring those into our learning.

What should students know about you?

If given a chance, I will talk effusively about psychotherapy, trail running, dogs, lifting heavy things, and
Milwaukee Bucks basketball.
pano of main campus