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Our Counselors and Staff

Shannon Deets, PhD, LPC

Shannon Deets, Ph.D., LPC is a highly trained Licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Pennsylvania. Shannon completed her master’s degree in Community Counseling in 2004 and her doctoral degree in Counseling Psychology in 2013 from Gannon University. Shannon provides counseling services to individuals, families, and couples. Shannon has also completed additional training in Psychotherapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Hypnotherapy, and a variety of styles of play therapy.

Shannon has experience working with: Depression, Bipolar, and Mood Disorders; Anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and Panic Disorders; Personality Disorders; Dissociative Identity Disorder; Posttraumatic Stress Disorder; and Autism.

Shannon enjoys working with individuals with diverse backgrounds and all sexual orientations. Shannon works as an advocate for her clients by helping them to find their highest and greatest purpose in life as they overcome obstacles in their life.

Shannon is an activist for a variety of social causes including mental health and education. It is a basic right and need of all people to have love, dignity, and access to resources. Therefore, Shannon also feels strongly about social causes including LGBTQIA+ issues, women, diversity, peace, economic inequality, rural concerns, and invisible minorities.

Shannon is an academic who is active in teaching and research. If you are a student in Shannon's classes please use the Academic Coursework link to find supplemental materials. If you are interested in learning more about Shannon's research please follow the research link.

Marian Bideaux, LCSW

Marian Bideaux is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with over 30 years of experience in mental health. She completed her master’s degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Social Work. Marian uses a variety of therapeutic approaches to address each client’s needs. If indicated by the client, family members or significant others may join the sessions to offer their input.

Marian's areas of expertise include the treatment of mood disorders, anxiety, posttraumatic stress, anger, relationship problems, obsessive compulsive disorders, grief and loss, and issues pertaining to aging.

Therapeutic approaches include cognitive behavioral therapy, anger management, stress reduction, strategies to improve interpersonal relationships and problem solving skills. In addition to individual therapy, Marian has significant experience working with couples and families.​

Kourtney Polvinale, MS LPC NCC

The essential nature of life is uncertainty, and we all encounter events in our lives that uniquely impact us – that impact being based on our genetics, environment, tools, attitude, and access to resources. Therapy is a place where people work together to build awareness and to cultivate tools to promote empowerment and sustainability in our lives. I would like to support you on that journey!

Kourtney Polvinale, MS LPC NCC is a Licensed Professional Counselor and nationally certified counselor in the state of Pennsylvania. Kourtney received her undergraduate degrees from Thiel College in Psychology and Religion and her master’s degree from California University of Pennsylvania in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. Kourtney has also been supervised by Dr. Shannon Deets since 2019. Working in the field since 2017, Kourtney has experience with both mental health and substance abuse disorders. Kourtney has experience with clients of diverse diagnoses, cultures/religions, ages, gender identities, sexualities, and severities, as well has experience with both individuals and couples.

Kourtney believes in a trauma-informed, holistically-minded counseling approach that reinforces the importance of understanding one’s context, familial background, and culture as well as the essential nature of personal responsibility and actualization for health and healing. Kourtney uses both traditional and non-traditional methodologies including Person-Centered, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, the creative and expressive arts, Existential therapy, and Acceptance and Commitment therapy. Kourtney believes fundamentally in the inherent potentiality within every individual and encourages her clients to see the same power and liberation within themselves.

Curtis Taylor, MS NCC

Curtis Taylor, MS NCC is a Nationally Certified Counselor with a Master of Science degree in Community Mental Health Counseling from Gannon University. Curtis completed his supervised practicum and internship at the Counseling Center at SUNY Fredonia. Curtis is currently a doctoral student at Duquesne University, studying Counselor Education and Supervision. Prior to enrolling at Gannon University, Curtis earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Slippery Rock University and a Master of Education in Middle and Secondary Education Instruction from Edinboro University. Curtis is a certified middle and secondary education Social Studies teacher in Pennsylvania. Curtis has worked with diverse populations as a teacher, behavior specialist, mobile therapist, therapeutic support staff, and life skills coach, and other helping roles. Curtis welcomes all new opportunities to serve with, learn with, and help with individuals of all backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences. Diversity and individual empowerment have been foundational in his pursuit of higher education and meaningful in his work with individuals who are looking to grow, learn, and live their most fulfilling lives. Curtis believes in a strengths-based approach to counseling that focuses on fostering hope and providing encouragement. Curtis believes individuals are diverse and dynamic, yet all share needs for: survival, love and belonging, power, freedom or independence, and fun. Curtis believes life presents continuous choices and opportunities for growth through the existential issues of meaninglessness, freedom, isolation, and death. His client is the expert.

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