Chiara Shelton
Chiara Shelton
(she/her)
I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with over six years of experience in behavioral health and more than three years in clinical practice. I specialize in treating trauma, eating disorders, and identity-related stress through a culturally responsive and trauma-informed lens. As a Black woman therapist, I value holding space that honors the fullness of who you are, including your cultural identity, generational experiences, and lived realities. I bring a steady, compassionate presence and a deep respect for your autonomy and truth.
Get to know me
In our first session together, here's what you can expect
In our first session, we’ll move at a pace that feels supportive and grounded. I’ll take time to learn more about you—your story, your concerns, your goals—and we’ll begin to lay the foundation for a collaborative relationship. I create space for you to bring your full self without pressure or expectation. You can expect presence, curiosity, and compassion as we explore where you've been and where you want to go.
The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions
I believe healing is not just clinical—it’s relational, cultural, and human. My communication style is warm, honest, and collaborative. I aim to meet clients with steadiness, deep listening, and thoughtful reflection. I believe in creating a space where you feel not just heard, but deeply seen, without judgment or pressure to perform. I also bring a grounded presence, offering direct but compassionate feedback to support your growth. Together, we’ll create space for honest reflection, intentional growth, and meaningful change.
The clients I'm best positioned to serve
I work primarily with individuals and families who are seeking deeper healing around trauma, emotional distress, relationship patterns, and systemic challenges. Many of my clients are navigating eating disorders, identity exploration, grief, or burnout, and are looking for a space that feels both safe and empowering. I especially support people who are often underrepresented or misunderstood in traditional mental health spaces, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those carrying generational or cultural trauma.
About Chiara Shelton
Chiara Shelton offers therapy covered by Kaiser Permanente - Medicaid in Virginia.
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) through a culturally responsive lens by honoring each client’s lived experience, cultural identity, and personal values. In my work with individuals navigating eating disorders, identity-related stress, or low self-esteem, I help clients gently explore internalized messages and emotional pain without judgment. ACT allows us to hold space for difficult thoughts while committing to actions that reflect the client’s truth—not societal pressures. Together, we build self-compassion, increase psychological flexibility, and reconnect with the values that support healing and a fuller sense of self.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use CBT in a way that’s collaborative, trauma-informed, and culturally attuned. Together, we identify unhelpful thought patterns shaped by life experiences, systemic messages, and identity-related stress. With curiosity and care, I help clients challenge internalized beliefs tied to low self-esteem, perfectionism, or body image, and replace them with more empowering, self-affirming narratives. We focus on building practical coping strategies that support emotional regulation and resilience, while centering the client’s values and lived experience.
EMDR
I use EMDR to help clients process distressing memories that may be linked to trauma, identity-based harm, or early life experiences that shape self-worth. In our work, I create a grounding and culturally safe space where clients can reprocess these experiences at their own pace. EMDR allows the brain to “unstick” from painful narratives and integrate more adaptive beliefs—especially around safety, identity, and self-acceptance.
Psychodynamic
Through a psychodynamic lens, I help clients explore the deeper emotional patterns and unconscious beliefs shaped by early relationships, cultural messages, and attachment experiences. This approach allows us to understand how the past may be playing out in the present—particularly in identity formation, self-esteem, and interpersonal dynamics. I hold space for this exploration with care and cultural humility, inviting insight, healing, and a more integrated sense of self.
Trauma Informed Care
My approach to trauma-informed care centers safety, choice, and empowerment. I recognize the impact of generational trauma, systemic oppression, and adverse life experiences on the mind, body, and identity. Whether a client is navigating identity wounds, complex trauma, or relational ruptures, I work to create a space that feels collaborative and affirming. Together, we gently explore triggers, build emotional regulation skills, and restore a sense of agency—always at the client’s pace and grounded in their cultural context.