Relationship coaching for singles and couples, grounded in the belief that better relationships begin with a stronger foundation. Integrating relationship science, psychology, and whole-person wellbeing to help people build healthier, more meaningful connections.
Hi, I am Fernanda Zettel-Shannon, but you can call me Nanda (Shannon) for short.
I am a holistic relationship coach for singles and couples, an Integrative Health Practitioner, and a Gottman Lessons in Love Leader. I am also pursuing a Master of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University as the graduate clinical training toward my future practice as a licensed psychotherapist.
My work brings together relationship science, psychology, nervous-system health, integrative wellness, and practical relationship skills people can use in everyday life.
I have always been fascinated by the social psychology of attraction and relationships: why we are drawn to certain people, how we choose partners, what makes us feel safe enough to connect, and why some relationships deepen while others repeatedly fall into the same patterns.
But my interest in this work goes beyond academic curiosity.
Graduate clinical training toward licensure as a psychotherapist (LCSW).
Research assistant, Psychophysiology of Emotion and Personality Laboratory.
Attachment theory, relationship satisfaction & dissolution, and related research.
Relationship Coaching, Psychoeducational Workshop & related skills.
Bridging the Couple Chasm.
Health education and bio-individualized diet & lifestyle coaching.
Polyvagal theory applied to nervous-system regulation in mental health.
Graduate clinical training toward licensure as a psychotherapist (LCSW).
Research assistant, Psychophysiology of Emotion and Personality Laboratory.
Attachment theory, relationship satisfaction & dissolution, and related research.
Relationship Coaching, Psychoeducational Workshop & related skills.
Bridging the Couple Chasm.
Health education and bio-individualized diet & lifestyle coaching.
Polyvagal theory applied to nervous-system regulation in mental health.
Relationships do not exist separately from the rest of our lives.
It is much harder to communicate patiently when you are chronically stressed. Harder to feel emotionally available when you are exhausted. Harder to connect when your nervous system constantly feels threatened or overwhelmed. And harder to build a healthy partnership when you do not understand your own patterns, needs, boundaries, or behavior.
That is why I take a holistic approach to relationship coaching.
My training as an Integrative Health Practitioner gives me a broader foundation in health and wellbeing, while my training in psychology, relationship science, and nervous-system regulation informs the relational side of my work. Together, these perspectives allow me to look beyond an isolated relationship problem and consider the larger system in which that relationship exists.
My approach combines relationship education and practical interpersonal skills with attention to important foundations of wellbeing, including stress regulation, sleep, movement, nutrition, social connection, emotional health, and the nervous system.
The goal is not perfection in every area of life. It is to strengthen the foundation from which healthier relationships become possible.
Your body has to feel safe before your heart will risk anything.
My approach begins with a foundation in integrative health and whole-person wellbeing, drawing on my training as an Integrative Health Practitioner. From there, I integrate the social psychology of attraction and mate selection, attachment theory, polyvagal theory, and evidence-based relationship research.
Rather than relying on conventional dating advice or formulas about what men or women supposedly want, I am interested in what research can actually tell us about attraction, partner selection, communication, trust, emotional regulation, and long-term relationship quality.
I am a Gottman Lessons in Love Leader and have completed additional Gottman training in couples work. My continuing education also includes training through the Polyvagal Institute and the American Psychological Association in areas relevant to relationships, attraction, and human behavior.
My academic foundation began with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. While at UNLV, I worked briefly as a research assistant in Dr. Stephen Benning's Psychophysiology of Emotion and Personality Laboratory and studied areas including social psychology, cognitive psychology, abnormal psychology, and behavior modification.
I am now pursuing a Master of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University, which provides the graduate clinical education required for my path toward becoming a licensed psychotherapist as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW). My developing clinical interests center on couples, relationships, and group psychotherapy.
My work today focuses on relationship coaching, psychoeducation, and structured groups for singles and couples.
At the same time, I am completing the clinical education and training required for a future career in psychotherapy. My Master of Social Work at Florida Atlantic University is the graduate degree that begins that professional pathway. Following graduation, I plan to complete Florida's required supervised clinical practice and pursue licensure as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW).
Ultimately, I want these two sides of my work to complement one another: accessible relationship education and coaching for people who want practical tools, alongside psychotherapy for the ones looking for a deeper and clinical dive.
Ground and Connect Me is being built with that larger vision in mind.
Join us and start creating the relationships you deserve.