Alexander Shan, MS in Chattanooga: Individual Therapy for Adults and Adolescents

Alexander Shan holds a Master's degree in counseling and provides individual psychotherapy to adults and adolescents in Chattanooga, addressing mood, anxiety, trauma, and adjustment concerns in a practice-based setting. His practice sits within a larger landscape of licensed mental health providers in the area, competing directly with licensed professional counselors (LPCs), licensed clinical social workers (LCSWs), and psychologists at similar price points and availability.

What Shan Offers

Shan provides evidence-based individual therapy, meaning sessions center on therapeutic approaches shown to work for specific problems rather than unstructured talk. The practice typically addresses depression, anxiety disorders, post-traumatic stress, life transitions, relationship strain, and behavioral adjustment issues in teenagers and adults. As an MS-level clinician (not a doctoral-level psychologist), Shan works within the scope of licensed professional counseling; he cannot prescribe medication or conduct formal psychological testing, but he can diagnose and treat most common mental health conditions. If a client needs psychiatric evaluation for medication management, Shan can refer to a prescriber.

Services and Pricing

Therapy fees for a 50-minute individual session typically range from $100 to $150 out-of-pocket, depending on whether insurance is billed. Many major insurers (BlueCross BlueShield, Cigna, United Healthcare, and others operating in Chattanooga) cover therapy at in-network rates, meaning your copay or coinsurance may be substantially lower. Verification of insurance coverage should happen before or at the first appointment; insurance reimbursement rates change annually, so confirm current rates directly with Shan's office.

Sessions are generally scheduled weekly, though frequency adjusts based on clinical need and client preference. Ongoing therapy typically commits to blocks of 4 to 8 weeks before a joint check-in on progress and goals.

How Shan Compares to Other Chattanooga Providers

Chattanooga hosts a range of licensed individual therapists. Psychologists (with a PhD or PsyD) often command higher fees ($150 to $200 per session) and may offer psychological testing; LCSWs, like LPCs, occupy a similar fee tier to Shan and may emphasize family or trauma-informed approaches. A meaningful distinction: if your insurance has high out-of-pocket costs or you are uninsured, confirm whether Shan offers sliding-scale fees, as some independent practices do; larger group practices and community mental health centers like Chattanooga Area Community Mental Health, Inc. (CACMH) provide tiered fees based on income, making them a better fit for limited budgets. If you need psychiatric care in one location, a psychiatrist or a medical group that includes both therapy and prescribing may reduce appointment fragmentation.

Who Suits This Practice and Who Does Not

Shan's practice fits individuals and adolescents without severe psychiatric conditions requiring hospital-level oversight, active substance-dependence needs (which often call for specialized addiction counseling), or a need for medication management under the same roof. Clients seeking longer-term individual psychotherapy for historical trauma, anxiety, or depression adjustment will find a natural fit. Adolescents with school-related stress, family conflict, or early signs of anxiety or mood concerns are within his scope.

Parents seeking only parenting coaching or couples therapy should clarify that Shan's focus is individual work; couples therapy and family systems treatment require different credentials and training. Similarly, if your teenager needs psychiatric evaluation, a consultation with a child psychiatrist may run parallel to or precede work with Shan.

First-Visit Structure

An initial appointment typically lasts 50 to 75 minutes and covers intake: history of the presenting problem, relevant medical and psychiatric background, family and social context, any prior therapy or medication use, and treatment goals. Shan will explain his therapeutic approach, likely introduce the framework for how sessions are structured, and discuss fees, insurance, and confidentiality limits (Chattanooga law and ethics mandate that confidentiality yield to risk of harm to self or others). The client then has an opportunity to ask questions.

Clients should bring photo identification, insurance information (front and back of card), and any list of current medications or providers. A brief written intake form is usually completed before or just as the first session begins.

Hours, Location, and Logistics

Specific office hours and parking details should be confirmed by contacting Shan directly, as private therapy practices in Chattanooga vary widely in scheduling and location accessibility. Many individual practitioners in the area work by appointment only, Monday through Thursday, with some offering early evening slots for working clients and students. Remote sessions via teletherapy have become standard in Chattanooga since 2020 and remain an option; confirm whether Shan accepts teletherapy for your state if you live outside Tennessee.

Why This Matters in Chattanooga

Individual therapy at a licensed, master's-level provider offers a middle ground between cost-prohibitive doctoral-level care and the wait times or group-model structure of community mental health agencies. Shan's practice serves as a straightforward entry point for adults and adolescents managing treatable mental health concerns without the need for medication management or specialized testing.