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Meet the Counselors: Shayna Hintze, LAC
Shayna Hintze, LAC was always interested in psychology and understanding why people behave and feel certain ways, but her own experiences growing up motivated her to pursue counseling as a career.
“When I was going through a rough patch, I sometimes felt like nobody understood me, or nobody was going through the same things,” Shayna said. “I want to be that person who was missing for me – someone who can help people get through tough times when they think nobody is there for them.”
Shayna has also been inspired by her love for animals. She spent 15 years working at a dog day care and training facility, starting as a counselor and moving up the ladder to become a behavioral trainer and the camp’s director.
“Working with dogs wasn’t supposed to be a career,” Shayna recalls. “It was something I enjoyed when I was going to school. Dogs taught me a lot because they live in the present instead of holding onto the past. That’s something I’ve carried with me into counseling.”
Shayna earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology from Ramapo College of New Jersey and Master of Arts in mental health counseling from Montclair State University, completing a year-long internship with West Bergen Mental Healthcare Services. She worked mostly with clients in their teens and early 20s, many of whom were dealing with anxiety while navigating major life changes.
During this internship, Shayna worked on social skills with groups of pre-teens and adults on the autism spectrum. She found her work with a group of LGBTQIA+ teens and adults particularly rewarding.
“Clients in this group were going through big changes and becoming themselves,” Shayna said. “Some were coming out to family and friends. Some were transitioning. Unfortunately, a lot of people in this population still face judgment from family members. I enjoy being that person who will support them unconditionally in a safe, inclusive environment.”
Shayna also completed an internship at the Institute for Forensic Psychology, a facility that provides evaluations for public service workers, such as police officers, firefighters, EMS workers, and security. Evaluations would determine whether someone would be cleared for active duty after traumatic experiences.
Shayna was drawn to Nutley Family Service Bureau (NFSB) by opportunities to help a variety of populations and educate people through community outreach programs. She also looks forward to incorporating her love of animals into counseling by becoming trained in animal-assisted therapy.
In addition to mental health counseling, Shayna loves that NFSB can help people in so many ways, whether they need Food Pantry services, financial assistance through social services, or help finding a job. She can refer people to the NFSB case management coordinator instead of sending them to a different facility.
“You can tell that everyone is happy to be here,” Shayna said. “All our services are interconnected, and everyone is very supportive. I can lean on them, and they can lean on me. It’s a very welcoming, warm environment.”
The ultimate reward of her work, of course, is seeing a client make progress that leads to positive change.
“I love when something just clicks and clients celebrate their own victories,” Shayna said. “When they realize they have a safe space and someone to support them, they feel motivated, and they notice when therapy is working. For me, that’s a really big thrill.”
