Shelley Dodt , LCSW

Shelley Dodt is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who brings a compassionate, pragmatic approach to therapy and coaching. Clients say they appreciate the sense that she is firmly on their side, helping them learn concrete ways to cope and move forward. She encourages people to keep behaviors that are working for them and to explore changes when patterns no longer serve their goals. Shelley listens closely and strives to be the kind of counselor she needed but could not find herself. She integrates mindfulness into her work and often reminds clients that as long as they are breathing there is more right with them than wrong, no matter what is wrong.

Shelley helps clients develop insights and practical coping skills to recognize and navigate life’s predictable challenges. She focuses on strengths and partners with people to put those strengths to the highest use in everyday life. Her style blends kindness, compassion, and a touch of humor while teaching tools to avoid or move around life’s little landmines. She takes pride in the progress people have made in her private practice and approaches each relationship with warmth and steadiness.

Shelley holds the credential LCSW, which indicates licensure as a clinical social worker, and she is also a Board Certified Patient Advocate and a Certified Life Coach. These qualifications reflect training in clinical practice, patient advocacy, and coaching techniques that support practical problem solving and personal growth.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Shelley Dodt commonly draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy, with elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy when helpful. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns - it is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and difficulties with coping. Mindfulness Therapy helps people cultivate present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental attention to thoughts and feelings, supporting stress management, emotional regulation, and improved day-to-day coping. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be helpful for intense emotions and relationship challenges.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Shelley works collaboratively with each person to determine what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors techniques rather than relying on a single method, and clients participate in deciding what feels most useful for them.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which provide flexibility for scheduling and ongoing support. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, maintain continuity between sessions, and access licensed professionals from different locations while focusing on consistent, practical progress.