About Shelly
Shelly Sanders is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) based in Idaho who helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, depression, and related concerns. She uses a warm, interactive style to make hard conversations easier to manage. Shelly focuses on practical steps people can try between sessions.
With nine years of therapy experience, Shelly draws on several evidence-informed methods to tailor care to each person. She uses attachment-based and client-centered ideas to build trust and focus on what matters most to the client.
Background and approach
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, while Dialectical Behavior Therapy offers concrete skills for emotion regulation. She may also use EMDR when appropriate for processing traumatic memories. Shelly aims to co-create short-term, achievable plans that fit each person's life.
Sessions look at immediate coping strategies and longer-term patterns, such as family of origin issues or relationship dynamics. She also supports people dealing with parenting stress, caregiver strain, chronic illness, and grief. Her approach is direct but compassionate.
She listens first, then works with clients to set specific goals and steps to meet them. Progress is reviewed regularly so plans can be adjusted as needed. People meet Shelly for many reasons, from sleep and eating problems to career stress and struggles with intimacy or self-esteem.
Her practice emphasizes practical tools, clear goals, and steady support as clients work through change.
Therapeutic approaches you can use online
Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how past and current relationships shape feelings and reactions. Online sessions can help people notice patterns in close relationships and practice new ways of connecting. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person's experience and priorities, giving space to be heard and to set goals at a comfortable pace. This approach supports work on self-esteem, grief, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches straightforward tools to change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can relieve anxiety, depression, and sleep or eating problems. Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before to choose methods that fit. This is a collaborative process and adjustments are made as progress and needs become clearer. Online therapy offers flexibility for busy lives. Video calls let people use visual cues and practice skills in real time. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging make short check-ins and skill practice easier between sessions. These options help people fit therapy into work, caregiving, and health routines while keeping treatment consistent and focused.Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Blended family issues
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Eating disorders
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Impulsivity
- Intellectual disability
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-love
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 9 years
- Licensed
- Idaho
- Languages
- English
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