SB Portrait of Shelby Brandsma

Shelby Brandsma, LCSW

Compassionate support for stress and anxiety

5 years in practice · based in Wisconsin · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Shelby

Shelby Brandsma is a Wisconsin licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with five years of practice experience. She focuses on helping people who feel overwhelmed by stress and anxiety or who are navigating relationship strain and parenting challenges. Shelby aims to create a respectful, sensitive tone in sessions so people feel heard and understood.

She uses straightforward conversation and a plan tailored to each person’s situation. Shelby helps clients sort through communication problems, attachment concerns, and the emotional fallout from separation or divorce.

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Background and approach

She also addresses impulsivity, attention-related struggles like ADHD, and social anxiety when those are part of the picture. Sessions focus on practical steps people can try between appointments. Shelby works with individuals to build better coping habits, clearer boundaries, and more effective ways to talk with others.

She also helps clients clarify life purpose and navigate midlife transitions. Shelby takes a compassionate, nonjudgmental stance and adapts her style to what a person needs. Her goal is to support and empower people as they work toward changes that matter to them.

The tone is collaborative and direct, with simple, achievable goals. She practices in Wisconsin and offers care in English. Shelby asks new clients to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule sessions according to availability.

Therapeutic approaches and online care that fit your life

Many of Shelby's techniques focus on skills people can use right away. One common approach is skills-based work that teaches coping strategies for anxiety and stress, such as breathing and grounding exercises and step-by-step plans to break down worry. This helps when racing thoughts or overwhelm make daily life harder.

She also emphasizes communication and attachment-focused work to improve relationships. That includes practicing clearer ways to express needs, setting boundaries, and repairing trust after conflict. These methods are useful for people dealing with repeated arguments, separation, or parenting tensions.

Finding the right method is a collaborative process. Shelby will talk with each person about what feels most helpful and adjust the approach as goals or circumstances change. Together the therapist and client decide which techniques to try and how to track progress over time.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for full conversations and visual cues, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, chat can fit short check-ins, and messaging lets people share updates between appointments. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, family, and daily routines while keeping care accessible and flexible.
Explore online therapy options See what online therapy involves and what your next steps would be.

Questions people ask

What concerns does Shelby commonly address?
She helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, family conflict, and parenting issues. Additional focuses include ADHD, attachment and communication problems, divorce and separation, impulsivity, life purpose, midlife changes, social anxiety, and women's issues.
How would you describe Shelby's therapeutic style?
Shelby uses a compassionate, respectful approach and tailors sessions to each person's needs. Conversations are practical and goal oriented, with steps to try between appointments.
What is Shelby's clinical background?
She holds a Wisconsin LCSW and has five years of professional experience working in clinical settings. That experience includes helping people with anxiety, stress, relationships, and parenting concerns.
Where does Shelby practice and what are her credentials?
She is licensed in Wisconsin as an LCSW. Sessions are offered to people located in Wisconsin.
In which languages are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She meets via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These formats offer flexibility for different schedules and communication preferences.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model. The subscription can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Shelby?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. After that you can schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Most often

Experience
5 years
Licensed
Wisconsin
Languages
English

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