- Strengths focused
- Evidence informed
- Compassionate support
About Shelley
Shelley Smith is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Georgia with 13 years of clinical experience. She focuses on practical help for people facing stress, anxiety, grief, depression, addiction, and trauma. Shelley emphasizes each person's strengths and respects the story they bring to therapy.
Shelley uses straightforward talk therapy and evidence-informed methods to help people manage intense feelings. She listens for patterns that cause pain and works with clients to try new ways of handling problems. Sessions are collaborative and paced to match what each person needs.
She also supports people dealing with relationship concerns, intimacy issues, parenting strain, and self-esteem problems. Additional areas of attention include abandonment, attachment issues, adoption and foster care, and challenges that come from family of origin or blended family dynamics. Shelley helps people sort through communication and control issues that get in the way of daily life.
In practice she draws on several approaches to find what fits: client-centered work that starts from the person's experience, cognitive behavioral techniques to change unhelpful thinking, and skills from dialectical behavior therapy to manage strong emotions. Narrative and psychodynamic ideas are used when exploring personal history and recurring patterns.
Shelley invites people who are ready to take a first step to reach out. She recognizes that starting therapy takes courage and aims to create a steady, respectful space to work toward clearer coping and healthier day-to-day routines.
How different approaches work online and in session
Client-centered therapy starts by listening closely to the person's story and building on their strengths. It helps people feel heard and guides work at a comfortable pace. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) looks at unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and teaches practical steps to shift them, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) offers skills for managing intense emotions and improving self-regulation, useful for strong anger or emotional overwhelm.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Shelley will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. Together they try methods and adjust the plan as needed so therapy stays useful and focused on real-life changes.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, cut travel time, or allow for shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also let people use tools learned in session right away in their day-to-day routines. Licensed professionals including therapists use these approaches to help people build coping skills and address emotional patterns without promising specific outcomes.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
13+ years
Credentials
Georgia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Shelley help with?
Shelley helps with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, parenting strain, self-esteem, ADHD, and related issues such as abandonment and adoption and foster care.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth. She centers your experience, listens for patterns, and offers practical tools to manage emotions and daily challenges.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Shelley has 13 years of professional experience working with people on a range of emotional and behavioral concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Georgia and practices from that state.
Which languages are used in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Shelley?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.