MEET shelly

Welcome! My name is Shelly (she/her). It may seem small, but even reading through a bio on a website is one step closer to reaching your goals. I hope you feel proud of yourself for being here, and I appreciate you taking the time to learn about me and what I do.

I have been described by clients, peers, and loved ones as open-minded, empathetic, and non-judgmental. I feel these qualities allow me to work with clients from all cultural backgrounds, belief systems, and life experiences. In our sessions together, I commit to showing up as my authentic self, leading with vulnerability and honesty, and hope to help you do the same.

I enjoy working with individuals who are seeking a deeper understanding of their needs, desires, and boundaries within dating, relationships, and intimacy. My goal as a therapist is to help you become more connected to yourself and others in a way that feels empowering and authentic. I want to help you show me the true version of who you are and what you are struggling with, so we can cultivate a safe space for change to occur. I draw from concepts within Nervous System Regulation, Somatic Experiencing, Internal Family Systems, and always utilize a Trauma-Informed approach.

I am particularly passionate about supporting women who identify as people-pleasers, perfectionists, highly sensitive, anxious, and/or Neurodivergent. As someone who used to feel my anxiety, people pleasing, and sensitive nature were just who I was, rather than parts of me, I know the pain of struggling to let go of limiting beliefs about yourself, and the difficulties that come with unprocessed trauma and shame. I know how hard it can be to learn how to love and accept all of yourself, and have experienced first-hand how all of these patterns impact dating, relationships, and sex, as well as disrupt our ability to feel confident and empowered. It wasn’t until I took the steps to find a mental health professional who truly understood me and made me feel safe, that I started to see progress in these areas. If you’re nodding along to some or all of this, and you’re ready to break free from these cycles, I would love to be the person to help you take your first steps towards healthier, happier relationships, with yourself and others!

In addition to my work with adults, I also enjoy working with children and adolescents (ages 3-18), especially those who are neurodivergent or highly sensitive. With a background as a Preschool Teacher, a Registered Behavior Technician working with children on the Autism Spectrum, and as a long-time babysitter, I am able to connect deeply with young people to help them feel understood. My personal experience growing up with undiagnosed ADHD, which manifested as an inability to regulate my emotions, extreme sensitivity, and emotional outbursts, informs this work. I approach this work as an opportunity to nurture my own inner child and offer the support I wish I’d had growing up.

I am passionate about raising awareness and educating young people around sexual health, reproductive health, and sex-and-relationship-focused anxiety. I believe young women deserve to have comprehensive education in order to better understand their menstrual cycles, prevent pregnancy, let go of anxiety, and ultimately learn to find safety in their bodies. If you’re a young woman struggling in these areas, or if you are a mom in need of support and education for your daughter, I would be happy to include these topics in our sessions!

Areas of Expertise and Interest

• Adults (18+)

• Children (3-10) and adolescents (10-18)

• Anxiety

• Perfectionism + People Pleasing

• Highly Sensitive People (HSP)

• Neurodivergence

• Dating and Relationships

• Sex and Intimacy

• Self-esteem + Self-Love + Self-Compassion

• Attachment wounds (particularly Anxious Attachment)

• Sexual Assault Survivors

• Trauma, PTSD, CPTSD

• Stress, Burnout, Self-care

• Women’s Health

• Play Therapy

Professional Trainings

• Somatica Institute Sex + Relationship Coach Training

• Empowered AF Mindset and Life Coach Certification

• First Aid/CPR Certified

Education and Licensure

• Licensed Professional Counselor Associate (LPC-A), supervised by Ilyse Kennedy, LPC-S, LMFT-S

• M.A. Clinical Mental Health Counseling, Northwestern University

• B.S. Strategic Communication, Texas Christian University

Fees and Services

I am currently accepting new clients and would love to schedule a consultation call!

I provide individual therapy for children, adolescents, and adults in the state of Texas. I offer in-person sessions for clients in Austin, and virtual sessions for anyone in Texas. All virtual sessions will be conducted using a HIPAA compliant telehealth platform. I recommend in-person sessions for children and adolescents. I have some evening and weekend availability.

Individual Therapy

$130 for 50-minute sessions
$180 for 80-minute sessions

While I do not accept insurance, I can provide monthly receipts (superbills) for you to submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement.