Shelley Janz , LCSW

Shelley Janz is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in Wisconsin with two decades of experience supporting individuals and couples through a wide range of life challenges. Over the course of her 20-year career she has accumulated more than ten years of focused work with people facing grief, loss, and end-of-life concerns, and she brings that depth of experience to other areas such as stress, anxiety, relationship and family difficulties, depression, addictions, and trauma and abuse.

Her practice also addresses concerns related to intimacy, parenting, anger, self-esteem, career transitions, compassion fatigue, and ADHD, and she frequently works with clients navigating blended family dynamics, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, codependency, communication and control issues, divorce and separation, emptiness, and family of origin problems. Shelley has experience working with LGBTQ clients as well as with first responder and law enforcement groups, and she approaches every person with inclusivity and respect.

Shelley’s clinical style is person-centered and compassionate. She collaborates with clients to clarify goals and develops individualized treatment plans to meet those goals, drawing on training in Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solutions Focused Therapy, and Motivational Interviewing. She believes no single technique fits everyone and tailors her approach to what works best for each client. Her practice is intended as a judgment-free space where people are treated with dignity regardless of age, gender, sexual orientation, or race.

Seeking help can feel intimidating, and Shelley honors the courage it takes to begin. Although she has supported many people toward greater well-being over her career, she is not currently accepting new clients.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Shelley Janz uses client-centered therapy to place each person’s goals and values at the center of care. This approach emphasizes empathy, active listening, and collaborative goal setting, making it useful for relationship concerns, life transitions, and building self-esteem. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns - it is often applied to anxiety, depression, and stress management. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers practical skills for regulating intense emotions, improving interpersonal effectiveness, and tolerating distress, which can be helpful for anger, trauma-related difficulties, and impulsive behaviors.

Shelley approaches treatment as a partnership and will work with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques from different therapies so the plan fits the individual rather than forcing a single model.

Online therapy with Shelley is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options provide greater flexibility for scheduling, make it easier to maintain continuity of care during busy or changing seasons of life, and allow people to access a licensed therapist from locations across Wisconsin. The variety of formats also makes it possible to choose the way of working that feels most comfortable and effective for the client.