Good Day! I'm a licensed clinical social worker based in Florida. I received my Masters in Social Work from Florida State University. I have previously worked as a case manager in an urban hospital, a social worker for the school system and working with child abuse and neglect. I have extensive experience in relationships, conflict resolution, anxiety, depression, ADHD and communication skills.
In our first session, I like to make introductions, giving the clients a brief history of my background and then ask them the same. I also inquire as to the reason they are seeking therapy. If there are numerous issues, then getting them to decide what comes first is helpful as a starting point. H
Having worked for over 20 years with adults who have experienced life changing events and are now dealing with depression/anxiety, communication and relationship issues, makes me able to "think outside the box" to help clients find solutions to their issues.
I enjoy working with clients who are facing anxiety or depression in their lives, helping them to move forward with tools to serve them long after therapy has ended. I love working with clients that are beginning their careers and are feeling overwhelmed with the amount of work they may be expected to accomplish. I also love working with parents in learning new parenting skills to better help their children. Communication skills are so very important in any relationship and I enjoy providing the skills to help move a relationship forward.
Shelly views the therapeutic relationship as a collaborative process that utilizes family systems and cognitive behavioral interventions. I aim to provide a comfortable and trusting environment where the client feels supported, respected and understood. I primarily work with adult clients to help them learn tools that will challenge maladaptive patterns and empower them to move forward and embrace their issues, so that they may once again have the control over their lives that they once had.
Employing all the tools used in CBT, allows the clinician to offer the client multiple ways of dealing with their issues.