About Sunshine

Sunshine Finneran, MSW, LCSW

Sunshine came into the field of psychotherapy through the lens of Buddhist thought as a means of understanding the notion of self and the nature of the mind. She realized individual therapy was of interest to her after studying Buddhism during her undergraduate degree. Her studies included travels to India, and studying Sanskrit, Patanjali’s yoga sutra, and yoga practice. She has also studied Buddhism under Thich Nhat Hanh.

While earning her clinical social work degree, she completed a master’s thesis titled “The Therapeutic Value of Direct Touch Bodywork with Individuals Who Have Experienced Trauma.” This work focused on the body in psychological process to heal trauma, as well as the efficacy of direct-touch bodywork.

Sunshine’s academic studies and Sensorimotor training have led to her focus on the body as a therapeutic resource—exploring therapeutic options like mindfulness and yoga asanas. These ideas are based in Bessel van der Kolk’s FMRI research, which asserts that trauma is held in the body, and re-experienced in the mind.

She graduated from Smith College with a BA in Religious Studies and a Master’s of Clinical Social Work. She has been practicing in a clinical setting for over ten years.