About us.
So… why sharks?
Sharks are resilient, adaptive, and often deeply misunderstood, qualities that resonate with the heart of our work as therapists. Despite the myths and stigma surrounding them, sharks are intelligent, sensitive to their environments, and essential to the ecosystems they inhabit. We chose sharks as a symbol for our practice because they reflect many of the experiences our clients carry into therapy: surviving adversity, navigating environments that may not always feel safe, and learning to embrace parts of themselves that have been misunderstood, judged, or marginalized.
At our practice, we honor the strength it takes to show up authentically and vulnerably, especially for individuals who have felt “othered” because of trauma, neurodivergence, identity, life experiences, or the ways they move through the world. We believe healing happens in spaces where people feel safe enough to be fully themselves without needing to mask, explain, or shrink who they are.
Our approach is grounded in trauma-informed, affirming, and inclusive care. We celebrate the diversity of human experience and strive to create a therapeutic environment where clients feel respected, supported, and empowered in their growth. Like sharks, our clients are not defined by misconceptions or survival strategies, they are complex, capable, and deserving of compassion, connection, and belonging.
Meet the Founders
Jade and Sam founded Requiem Cove Counseling to provide a safe, affirming space for folx of all walks of life to feel supported while navigating life’s challenges. Jade and Sam are passionate about advocating for folx that often feel misunderstood and overlooked. They recognize the increased in need for mental health professionals to not only have specialized training in complex trauma, chronic illness, neurodiversity, LGBTQIA+ concerns, and grief/loss but a true understanding of how all of these things intersect and impact people’s lives.
Jade Shapiro, MSW, LCSW-C
Jade (she/her) works with individuals and families 12+ specializing in trauma (C-PTSD/PTSD), adoption issues, ADHD, LGBTQIA+ concerns, and chronic insomnia. Jade is a board approved supervisor in Maryland for licensed social workers (LMSW) and professional counselors (LGPC).
Favorite shark: Bull Shark
COFOUNDER | THERAPIST | SUPERVISOR
Sam Willett-Jackson, LCPAT, ATR-BC
Sam (she/they) works with individuals and families 12+ specializing in trauma (C-PTSD/PTSD), chronic Illness, grief & loss, ADHD, LGBTQIA+ concerns. Sam is a board approved supervisor in Maryland for licensed art therapists (LGPAT).
Favorite shark: Greenland Shark
COFOUNDER | ART THERAPIST | SUPERVISOR
Our Values
At the core of our work is the belief that healing from trauma happens through safety, trust, and authentic connection. Therapy should be a space where you feel respected, believed, and met with dignity, without judgment, pressure, or assumptions about how healing “should” look.
We are committed to practicing with transparency, collaboration, and care, even when systems, timelines, or outcomes create pressure. Discrimination, prejudice, and harm, whether explicit or subtle, have no place in the therapeutic relationship. Your autonomy, voice, and lived experience are central, always.
Healing is not linear. Progress may feel slow, uneven, or messy at times, and that does not mean therapy isn’t working. We believe resilience grows not by erasing trauma, but by learning how to live with greater self-understanding, compassion, and a sense of safety in the present moment.
Therapy Philosophy & Approach
Safety & the Therapeutic Relationship
Emotional and psychological safety are the foundation of trauma therapy. For us, safety means trust, transparency, and feeling understood, not just talked to. We view the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative process, where trust is built over time and repaired openly when ruptures occur.
You have full autonomy in sessions. Together, we decide the pace, focus, and direction of therapy. Regular check-ins help ensure that the work feels aligned, respectful, and supportive.
View of Trauma & Healing
We understand trauma as something that impacts individuals, relationships, and the systems we live within. Trauma often disrupts our felt sense of safety, within ourselves, with others, and in the world.
Healing is a nonlinear, ongoing process. There may be setbacks, pauses, and moments of frustration. Rather than striving to “fix” or erase the past, therapy focuses on helping you build resilience, increase distress tolerance, and experience more choice and relief in the present.
We intentionally challenge narratives rooted in shame, self-blame, low self-worth, and the belief that things will never get better. Trauma may shape your story, but it does not define your worth or your future
Power, Ethics & Boundaries
Therapy involves an inherent power dynamic, and we take that responsibility seriously. I work to reduce imbalance through collaboration, transparency, and consent, not just at intake, but throughout our work together.
Boundaries are held thoughtfully, with the goal of supporting safety and trust without becoming rigid or impersonal. When something doesn’t feel right, we talk about it.
Inclusion, Identity & Cultural Humility
Your identity, culture, and lived experience matter. We practice with cultural humility, acknowledging that we will never know everything about experiences we don’t share, and remaining committed to ongoing learning, unlearning, accountability, and repair.
We are especially thoughtful in our work with individuals navigating complex trauma, chronic illness, adoption, neurodivergence, and LGBTQ+ identities.
What Success Can Look Like
From a client’s perspective, success isn’t perfection or the absence of pain. It may look like:
Distress feeling more tolerable
Being more present in daily life
Feeling less controlled by the past
Showing yourself greater kindness and compassion
Beyond the Therapy Room
We believe therapy practices also hold responsibility for education, advocacy, referrals, and community awareness. Listening to client feedback and noticing patterns, such as dissatisfaction or disengagement, helps ensure that our work remains aligned with our values.