Shelley Dodt , LCSW

Shelley Dodt brings a compassionate, down-to-earth approach to therapy and coaching, helping people find practical ways to cope and make meaningful changes in their lives. Clients appreciate that she often feels "on their side" as she works with them to identify which behaviors are helping and which are holding them back. She emphasizes insight, skill-building, and a gentle sense of humor while encouraging clients to use their strengths to move forward.

Shelley integrates mindfulness into her work and often quotes Jon Kabat-Zinn to remind people that small moments of grounded attention can reveal more that is right than wrong. She teaches coping tools to help clients anticipate and navigate life's challenges, from stress and anxiety to grief, relationship issues, trauma, and life transitions. Her style centers on kindness, compassion, and practical strategies so clients can feel better, do better, and prosper.

Shelley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) - a mental health professional trained to provide therapy - and she is also a Board Certified Patient Advocate, which reflects training in guiding people through healthcare-related concerns. She holds a certification as a Life Coach, supporting goal setting and actionable change. She takes pride in the progress people have made working with her and aims to be the kind of counselor she once sought for herself.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Shelley often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), alongside mindfulness practices, to help clients build practical skills. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching concrete coping strategies. DBT combines skill training in emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, making it useful for strong emotions, relationship challenges, and patterns of impulsivity. Mindfulness Therapy encourages present-moment awareness and gentle acceptance, helping people respond to stress and recurring worries with more clarity and balance.

Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the therapeutic process. Shelley collaborates with each person to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds so therapy stays practical and relevant.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to engage - video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - so people can access licensed professionals from home, work, or while traveling. These options make it easier to fit consistent support into a busy life and to continue care through transitions or scheduling challenges.