Shannon Smith received her BA in Biology with a minor in Environmental Studies at the University of California, Santa Cruz, followed by two years of field research on baboon behavior in Tanzania, East Africa. While studying baboons, her fascination and affinity for the art of observing behavior took root. After international travel she settled in San Francisco and pursued her Masters in Counseling Psychology with a Transpersonal specialization from John F. Kennedy University, CA. Internships were held at the Oakland Counseling Center, then in San Francisco in private practice.

By day, Shannon also attained a successful career in management in the software and publishing industries. On nights and weekends, Shannon began to lead spiritual journey groups for women, and groups for gay men with HIV. This journey work brought a desire for deeper, more soul filled ways of being with people in times of suffering and life change.   She subsequently studied for four years at the Spiritual Director’s Institute at Mercy Center, CA; completing the education, discernment and training in individual and group spiritual direction. She held a practice in spiritual direction for many years in Redwood City, and continued to lead retreats, groups and facilitate individuals in spiritual development.

Moving back to her hometown, Portland, in 2003, Shannon has since devoted her career to counseling in private practice. She continues to blend her education, experience, and appreciation for the spiritual aspect of being within the foundation of psychotherapy. Her professional techniques borrow from the Humanistic, Existential, and Transpersonal schools of theory.  A sense of presence, compassion and belief in growth are aspects she freely brings to bear in her practice.

Since spring of 2006 Shannon has been teaching an ongoing series of classes on Finding the Emotional Connection to Eating at Metabolic Research Center www.emetabolic.com . There are currently two offices west of Denver: Beaverton and Hillsboro. The classes cover a range of topics such as establishing healthy Boundaries, understanding Anger, and the nature of Control. She has taken a passion to helping people untangle patterns of eating behavior.