Dr. Shawna M. Benson, PsyD, LP

Psychologist | Clinical

11925 Central Ave NE Blaine MN, 55434 Show map

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About

Dr. Shawna M. Benson is a clinical psychologist practicing in Champlin, MN. Dr. Benson specializes in the treatment of health mental problems, and helps people to cope with their mental illnesses. As a psychologist, Dr. Benson evaluates and treats patients through a variety of methods, most typically being psychotherapy or talk therapy. Patients usually visit Dr. Benson because they have been experiencing depression, anxiety, stress or anger for a significant period of time and are seeking help. Psychologists may perform a variety of exams and assessments to diagnose a mental condition. In addition to psychotherapy, Dr. Benson specializes in pre-bariatric weight loss surgery psychological evaluations.

Education and Training

MN School of Professional Psyc PsyD 2003

Provider Details

Female English

Dr. Shawna M. Benson, PsyD, LP

Dr. Shawna M. Benson, PsyD, LP's Expert Contributions

My Answers

I was prescribed Adderall when I was 12, could I get it again at 22?
If you went through a complete psychological evaluation with psych testing when you were 12 years old to get that original diagnosis, you can bring that old report into a medical primary doctor to see if they are comfortable using that old report for history data, then to prescribe for you. That is probably the easiest way, but they may still not want to prescribe a controlled substance. You may need to go see a psychologist for updated psych testing to rule out the ADHD again, if you don't have the old testing report. Most medical docs and psychiatrists/psychiatric nurse practitioners are likely to want that psych testing evaluation to help with medication decisions. But, you could always start with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner, meet with them for an intake, and see if they want or need you to do a psych testing evaluation in order to prescribe to you. They may not want or need a new evaluation. So those are a few options that usually help. READ MORE
Does relaxation help anxiety?
Yes, it can. A psychobabble term called Reciprocal Inhibition describes the premise that the body cannot be both relaxed and agitated/anxious at the same time. So, if you put your body into a state of relaxation, this will inhibit the anxiety. It is important to realize that sometimes we think that we are relaxed, but we really are not, so watch out for that problem! READ MORE
How often should you see a therapist for depression?
The therapist may have an opinion on how often you might want to come in for outpatient sessions depending on how severe is your mood disorder and the type of therapy they do (some methods of psychotherapy are more effective once or twice a week, especially at initial stages, and other methods that does not matter as much). If I am working with someone who has suicidal thoughts or other more potentially risky symptoms, but they do not need hospitalization or day treatment, then I might suggest at least weekly sessions. Common rates for my clients are every other week, and at a minimum monthly, for less severe issues or more like maintenance check-ins. READ MORE
What is the difference between a therapist and psychologist?
Psychologists train to be able to implement and interpret psychological tests applicable to various environments (e.g., clinic, work places). Since a doctoral program is longer than a master's program, psychologists also tend to do more research and clinical trainings while still pursuing the doctorate degree. Our "Licensed Psychologist" license is earned from the state(s) where we work (in the USA anyway), some time after the doctorate is earned. Psychologists often still do psychotherapy when we work within clinical environments, similar to the psychotherapy work our master's level counterparts do, such as our LMFT (licensed marriage and family therapist), LPCC (licensed professional clinical counselor), or LICSW (licensed independent clinical social worker) colleagues often do with clinical environments. READ MORE
What is talk therapy used for?
In general, talk therapy is used to help you increase your understanding and insights into your own mental health struggles and help you figure out what internal changes to make that might help you feel better, or what other life changes need to occur to help you do things better. How a therapist helps you accomplish this process depends on what type of training we have had and what we call our therapeutic orientation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapists, for example, will help you find your negative thoughts, negative or unhelpful beliefs, and other core issues and teach you how to challenge unhelpful thought patterns and change them so you can experience improved feelings and make healthier behavioral choices. Interpersonal Therapists might help you examine past relationships and trauma experiences and increase your insight into how that might influence the problems within your current relationships, or the life choices you make now in your life, and they will work to help you interrupt and change any relationship patterns that are unhelpful for you, to help you feel less stuck. These are only two types of the many talk therapy orientations and styles, and most of us use more than one type. What most of the orientations have in common is training on human behavior and what makes us similar and different from to each other as people and developing a professional understanding on how mental health problems arise to negatively influence our lives. We then use our trained ways of asking certain questions, responding to you in certain ways, and providing a different view point to help you make these changes. Some mental health problems and conditions may respond better to specific orientations and methods, but research tells us that, for the most part, you liking your therapist and feeling like they are a good fit for you is going to determine most of the success you feel like you have when utilizing talk therapy. READ MORE
Can anxiety cause physical pain symptoms?
Yes, most definitely. Anxiety is very physical and can reside in people's bodies in different ways (e.g., gastrointestinal problems versus panic attacks). The "brain body connection" runs both ways, meaning that mental health disorders can influence physical sensations and pain (or worsen organic physical pain your body already has from a different medical/physical problem), and in turn, physical pain issues can trigger or worsen mental health symptoms. READ MORE
Are bipolar people manipulative?
Not any more so than people without mood disorders. If a person with bipolar disorder also has a personality disorder, like Borderline Personality Disorder, you may see more manipulative behavior from that person. READ MORE
What can trigger a manic episode?
Some people can get away with behavior like staying up too many nights in a row without sleep or drug use/abuse without triggering a manic episode, but if you have a family history of depression, or especially a family history of bipolar disorder, you will want to take care of yourself really well, including good rest and sleep, a good diet, and don't do drugs! READ MORE
Can social workers suffer from depression?
Most definitely. Those of us in the helping professions are just as susceptible to mood disorders as anyone else. If you think your mood struggles have to do directly with your job, you may want to talk to a safe professional peer or mentor, maybe take a seminar about burnout or professional self-care, and/or get your own counselor/psychotherapist. I always got back into therapy during major life transitions or just when I think I need it again! READ MORE
Why am I having hallucinations?
I would suggest you talk to your PCP about ruling out medical issues that could account for your symptoms, and that doctor can team up with a psychiatrist and maybe a neurologist if you and your PCP think you need those referrals. Psychosis in mental health can come from traditional thought disorders like schizophrenia, or even with severe mood disorders you might find psychotic symptoms, like with depression, bipolar, PTSD, or schizoaffective disorder. READ MORE
Is CBT good for anxiety?
Yes. READ MORE
Do I need a psychologist for my depression?
Yes, I would encourage you to get some help and go through a diagnostic assessment or intake with a mental health professional. It does not have to be a psychologist. Mental health psychotherapists and counselors of all different licenses and backgrounds can be helpful for depression: licensed independent clinical social workers (LICSW), licensed marriage and family therapists (LMFT), and licensed professional clinical counselors (LPCC), to name a few. You could also check in with your medical doctor/primary care provider to ask about medication management for depression if you think that might help as well. READ MORE
Can you teach yourself cognitive behavioral therapy?
Sure. Find yourself a CBT workbook that you like and work through all the readings and assignments and frequently practice what you learn. However, it is nice to have a psychotherapist to work with while doing these lessons in case anything stressful or difficult comes up for you. Shawna M. Benson, PsyD, LP READ MORE

Areas of expertise and specialization

Bariatric Surgery PatientsPerinatal and Postpartum Parent PsychotherapyElder care and life adjustment to Disability experiencesDepression, Anxiety, and Bipolar symptom managementPersonality DisordersTrauma informed care and interventions

Professional Memberships

American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery
American Psychological Association
National Register of Health Service Psychologists

Internships

Pre-doctoral Psychology Internship at the University of Manitoba and Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Fellowships

Post-doctoral position at the Range Mental Health Center in Virginia, Minnesota in general rural psychological assessment and intervention strategies, with a focus on substance abuse and dependency treatment and pre-surgical evaluations.

Professional Society Memberships

Minnesota Psychological AssociationMinnesota Women in Psychology

Teaching and speaking

Didactic seminars for pre-doctoral psychology interns on general psychotherapy and assessment topics and on the topic of conducting successful, ethical, and helpful pre-bariatric weight loss surgery psychological evaluations.Support group lectures and round table discussions for bariatric surgery patients both before and after surgery.

Hobbies / Sports

I enjoy walking and riding bike with my children and reading detective novels.

Favorite professional publications

Journal of Health Service Psychology

Dr. Shawna M. Benson, PsyD, LP's Practice location

Soul Work Counseling

11925 Central Ave NE -
Blaine, MN 55434

Get Direction

New patients: 763-746-0842

Fax: 763-220-6025

https://www.soulworkcounseling.com/shawna-m-benson/

Mon:09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Tue:09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Wed:09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Thu:09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Fri:09:00 AM - 04:00 PM
Sat:Closed
Sun:Closed

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Get to know Licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Shawna M. Benson, who serves patients in Champlin, Minnesota.

Being a licensed clinical psychologist, Dr. Benson provides psychotherapy for men, women, all adults of all ages, as well as individual and family psychotherapy for pre-teens and older adolescents. She also conducts pre-bariatric weight loss surgery psychological evaluations in addition to psychotherapy and counseling before and after surgery as needed. She practices at Soul Work Counseling in Champlin, Minnesota.

Recognized for her interactive and solution-focused approach, Dr. Benson strives to help her patients efficiently and effectively meet their individual goals. Her professional specialties include depression and anxiety, grief and loss struggles and life transitions, parenting teens, perinatal/postpartum mood disorders and adjustments for new parents, self-esteem and identity issues, bipolar disorder, eating disorders, body image difficulties, crisis and trauma therapy, development and sexuality issues, dual diagnoses (mental health difficulties along with substance abuse and dependency struggles), disability adjustment, wellness achievement, and wholeness-of-the-self psychological care.

In addition to face to face consultation, she is trained and competent at using teleconferencing technology for on-line telehealth appointments when desired and appropriate. She is also a clinical supervisor for doctorate-level mental health providers working toward their license in clinic psychology (LP), and she is a board-approved supervisor for Licensed Professional Clinical Counselors (LPCC) in Minnesota.

Before embarking on her professional journey, Dr. Benson received her Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) degree from the Minnesota School of Professional Psychology in 2003. She completed her pre-doctoral internship in psychology at the University of Manitoba and Victoria Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. This was followed by a postdoctoral position at the Range Mental Health Center in Virginia, Minnesota training in general rural psychological assessment and intervention strategies, with a focus on substance abuse and dependency treatment in addition to pre-surgical evaluations.

To advance her professional efforts, Dr. Benson remains a member of the American Psychological Association, the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, the National Register of Health Service Psychologists, the Minnesota Psychological Association, and Minnesota Women in Psychology.

Clinical psychology is a broad branch of psychology that focuses on diagnosing and treating mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders. Some of the more common disorders that might be treated include mood disorders like depression, anxiety, or bipolar disorder, in addition to trauma influenced problems such as personality disorders and behavioral difficulties like eating disorders. Licensed clinical psychologists meet with patients to identify problems – emotional, mental, and behavioral – occurring within their lives. Through observation, interviews, and psychological tests, they aim to diagnose any existing disorders or difficulties for their patients.

Outside of the office, Dr. Benson enjoys walking, riding her bike with her children, and reading detective novels. Her favorite professional publication is the Journal of Health Service Psychology.