Shawn McBride is AMAZING! First and foremost, he calls it like it is! He's a faith based counselor so already his position is going to align with the Bible! Not only does he listen but he holds you accountable. I used Shawn over four years ago for couples counseling. Yes, I have no shame in saying I've used a counselor. Counselors are necessary. He was super transparent and honestly helped me. Ladies, I highly encourage you to do a one on one with him if you're older and still single. Although he does do primarily couple therapy, he will do one on one work. Especially my Christian women, if you're a Christian woman and fall short in areas, book him! I recently saw his IG reel pop up on my feed and even those reels provided a positive impact, immediate follow. I figured I'd come give him love here because of how he positively impacted my life and because I didn't review him before. I chuckled at the last review because it's true, he isn't cheap! But he's worth every penny! And....... He's honest! Brutally honest. If you are in a relationship and you need someone to call you out and you really want to change, use him. Love is a TEAM sport! There is NO I in Team! Relationships are a partnership, not a solo act, two people must learn how to move through life without stepping on each other's shadows. Respecting and acknowledging each other's feelings keeps the bond steady. But when one person refuses to grow or change, the balance tilts, the rhythm stumbles, and the whole connection begins to lose its shape. Shawn is pivotal at addressing root cause! Look in the mirror. Any relationship is fixable if two people agree to compromise and agree to boundaries. Self accountability is required. You're not in a relationship if you're with a married man. Small gem for those of you who think you are. Highly recommend! read more

Couples Counseling Center - Shawn McBride - Life Coach Near Me - Bowie, Maryland

I am sharing my experience so others can make an informed decision before engaging this therapist. One major concern I want to highlight upfront is the requirement to prepay large sums in advance, which in my experience became a serious issue. Before beginning individual therapy, we paid $1,495 for a 3-Hour Couples Intensive. This service was marketed as three full hours of uninterrupted counseling intended to help couples get to the root of their issues more efficiently than standard 55-minute sessions. The intensive was described as providing extended, continuous time to support clarity and meaningful progress. However, at the last minute, the structure was changed and only two hours were scheduled upfront. That two-hour session functioned primarily as a "get to know you" conversation, rather than an intensive. There was no clarity gained and no noticeable progress made during or after that session. Much of the language used mirrored content the therapist regularly posts on Instagram, and we left the session feeling more discouraged than when we started. In hindsight, this should have been a red flag, as it marked the beginning of a broader pattern of inconsistency. Following this, the therapist advised that couples therapy was not the appropriate option for us and recommended that I transition to individual therapy instead. Based on that guidance, I prepaid $3,800 for a six-month, bi-weekly individual therapy package (12 sessions). Over the course of approximately three months, only three sessions actually took place. The remaining sessions were affected by repeated cancellations, extended gaps between appointments, and ongoing scheduling disruptions that made continuity of care impossible--particularly concerning given the emotional state in which therapy was sought during a period of emotional or relational crisis. Despite having paid in full, my time, money, and therapeutic needs were repeatedly disregarded. When I raised concerns about the lack of services delivered relative to the amount prepaid, I did not receive a professional or solution-focused response. Instead of addressing the missed sessions, the financial imbalance, or proposing a constructive resolution, the therapist responded in a manner that I found deeply inappropriate and disrespectful. In a written email to me, the therapist stated: "You should spend more time on trying to win your wife back and meeting her needs. I can see why you have had multiple wives." This comment felt personal, judgmental, and entirely unrelated to resolving the service or billing concerns I raised. In my view, it crossed professional boundaries and undermined the basic standards of respectful, client-centered communication expected of a licensed mental health professional. After this exchange, I informed the therapist that trust had been significantly diminished due to the unprofessional and disrespectful nature of his communication. Despite this, he has refused to refund the unrendered services and instead advised me to continue therapy with him, even though the therapeutic relationship had clearly been compromised. He also directed me to seek a refund through PayPal, rather than taking responsibility for resolving the matter directly. As a client, I expected professionalism, accountability, and ethical handling of prepaid services--particularly given the vulnerability involved in seeking therapy. Instead, I was left feeling dismissed, financially disadvantaged, spoken to in a manner that was inappropriate and harmful, and pressured to continue services despite a breakdown in trust. Therapy depends on trust, emotional safety, consistency, and professional conduct. Unfortunately, my experience reflected a significant breakdown in all four. I strongly encourage anyone considering this provider to carefully review refund policies, clarify scheduling expectations in writing, and think very carefully before paying for services in advance. Based on my experience, I would advise others to seek a provider who demonstrates reliability, respect, and genuine care for their clients. We will be filing a complaint through the Maryland Board of Counselors and therapists. read more