our practice philosophy

Hope and Resilience Therapy is a trauma-focused practice serving adults who want to heal from past experiences and feel more grounded in their daily lives. I specialize in working with individuals experiencing anxiety, grief, depression, and trauma-related distress. I use evidence-based, trauma-informed approaches, including EMDR, to support meaningful healing, emotional balance, and sustainable change. I believe therapy should feel compassionate, collaborative, and accessible, and am committed to providing care that works within real-world systems, including insurance.

Why I Do This Work

Hope and Resilience Therapy was founded with these values in mind and my own path into this work deeply informs how I support clients and clinicians today. Because many adults in Vermont struggle to find insurance-based, trauma-informed therapy that feels both evidence-based and personally supportive, I built this practice to meet that need.

I specialize in trauma recovery, anxiety, and life transitions. While my training is extensive, what truly defines my work is presence. I bring a calm, intuition, and groundedness that lets you exhale and feel safe.

Clients often say I carry wisdom beyond my years. To me, that means honoring every story with compassion, honesty, and deep respect for your pace and process

Schedule a Free Consultation
A woman with wavy brown hair wearing a black button-up shirt and beige high-waisted pants standing against a dark gray background.

Shaina Pleva, LICSW

Outside the therapy space, you’ll find me where things are real and restorative:

  • Surrounded by my five cats 🐈 (yes, five!)

  • Soaking in the stillness of nature

  • Reading something insightful, soul-stretching, or just beautifully written

  • Painting vibrant barn quilts, my own way of bringing color and tradition together

  • Strength-training or moving my body to stay grounded and energized

These things keep me centered and remind me that joy can live right alongside the hard stuff.


Person relaxing on a wooden dock by a calm river, wearing blue sneakers and gray leggings, with a scenic landscape of trees and rolling hills in the background under a partly cloudy sky.