Book a therapist or psychiatrist in Laguna Beach, CA covered by Cigna

Hi, I’m May, a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner, and I’m here to help you feel like yourself again. I work with individuals experiencing depression, anxiety, and feeling overwhelmed. I provide medication management along with tools to support better mood, sleep, focus, and daily functioning. I take time to listen and understand your experience so we can create a plan that fits your needs. With a background in both mental health and special education, I bring patience, empathy, and a commitment to meeting you where you are. If you’re ready for support, I’d be honored to work with you.

My goal is to create a space where you feel comfortable, heard, and supported. I am open-minded, easy to talk to, and strive to build genuine connections that make therapy feel more like a conversation than an interview. Many people describe me as someone who feels familiar, like they’ve known me for years. I believe in using humor, collaboration, and practical strategies to help navigate life’s challenges while honoring each person’s culture, experiences, and values.

I am currently accepting new clients. Life can feel loud, confusing, or just plain heavy, and you do not have to sort through it alone. I work with children, teens, and adults navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism, mood changes, personality-related struggles, and big emotions. Whether you are looking for support for your child or for yourself, our work can help you feel more understood, more steady, and better equipped for everyday life.

With over 15 years of experience, I have helped countless individuals navigate the challenges they face and find peace within themselves. Together, we can work towards culminating a healthier and more fulfilling future.

When I am not working I enjoy spending time with my dogs, hiking with friends, cooking, and making flower arrangements. I also enjoy spending time doing artsy activities or attending local events.

Is your cup feeling empty?

I'm Shahna Duerksen, M.A., LMFT, a California-licensed Marriage and Family Therapist providing therapy exclusively to women 18+ through California telehealth and in-person sessions in Fresno.

I work with women who spend much of their lives pouring into others and may eventually feel overwhelmed, anxious, burned out, disconnected, or unsure of who they are beyond their responsibilities. Sometimes everyone else is receiving our time, energy, and care while our own cups are running low.

I especially enjoy helping women navigate adult ADHD symptoms, anxiety, depression, people-pleasing, boundaries, relationship distress, betrayal trauma related to infidelity or problematic sexual behaviors in a partner, identity and life transitions, and family or cultural expectations.

I also support therapists and mental health professionals—from those in training to experienced clinicians—who are navigating burnout, compassion fatigue, vicarious trauma, professional boundaries, self-care, and the emotional demands of caring for others.

Another meaningful part of my work is supporting women navigating life between cultures, including South Asian and Indian women balancing their own needs and identity with family, cultural, spiritual, or relational expectations. Finding room for yourself doesn't have to mean abandoning the people or values that matter to you.

I earned my M.A. in Intercultural Studies and M.A. in Marriage and Family Therapy from Fresno Pacific University. My education and professional experience inform my interest in culturally responsive care and the ways culture, family, relationships, and life experiences shape how we understand ourselves.

And yes—funny, polite sarcasm and humor are fluently spoken. I also speak very basic conversational Hindi.

I believe people carry far more strength, clarity, and resilience than they often realize. My role is to help you understand the emotional patterns and internal narratives that shape your experience, so you can move through life with greater freedom and self‐trust. I’m engaged, attuned, and honest in the room — offering reflection, insight, and steady collaboration as we explore what’s happening beneath the surface. We work at a pace that feels grounded for you, creating space for real change to germinate.

I believe that in order for therapy to be effective, the client has to participate in the process. I am not a magician. I don't have a magic wand. Changing old behaviors and patterns can be difficult and painful but i am willing to be there to support you on your journey to better health.

It is my prayer to build a practice that helps you reach a place where your mental health is truly at the forefront. My hope is that with each appointment—and each day—you feel supported in moving closer to the best version of yourself.