Our Providers are interactive and solution-focused. Our therapeutic approach is to provide support and practical feedback to help you effectively address personal life changes and challenges. We integrate varied methodologies and techniques to offer a highly personalized approach tailored to each client. With compassion and understanding, we work with you to help you build on your strengths and attain the personal growth you are committed to accomplishing.
Shelly is the Clinical Supervisor of Therapy Group, Inc. She is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) with an M.S. from Iowa State University in Human Development and Family Studies with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy. Shelly provides virtual therapy to couples and individuals struggling with issues such as infidelity, sexual addiction, communication, co-parenting and personality disorders. Shelly is a Certified Personality Disorder Professional, meaning she is highly trained in effectively working with individuals and couples with personality disorders. Shelly is a direct and goal-focused therapist that uses strategic and solution focused approaches. She is an approved AAMFT Supervisor.
Cyndi received her Bachelor's degree in Psychology at the University of Phoenix and her Master's degree in Clinical Psychology at Bellevue University. She has a general Virtual practice, seeing individuals age 9 and up and couples for a variety of issues including (but not limited to) bullying, difficulty in school, anxiety, depression, family member suicide, and many other issues. Using a variety of treatment modalities, she will evaluate and design a treatment plan to meet your individual needs.
When you call, you can tell us who you would like to schedule with, or we can help you find the best therapeutic fit : )
What to Expect During Different Types of Therapy
What happens in sessions can depend on the type of treatment. Many therapists combine elements of different approaches.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
One common type is CBT, which is one of the most research-backed treatments for anxiety disorders and depression. It's based partly on the idea that distorted thinking is a main cause of mental distress. Say you're in therapy for depression. If a friend didn't stop to chat at school drop-off, you might think, "She must hate me. I'm worthless." During CBT, a therapist would help you identify these unhelpful thoughts, challenge them, and replace them with more realistic ones. She might encourage you to instead think, "My friend was probably busy and had to dash out." For anxiety issues, CBT also usually involves "exposure," in which you gradually expose yourself to the things you're afraid of. So if you have an elevator phobia, you'll work with your therapist to feel more comfortable in and around elevators.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
If your therapist recommends Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)—which research suggests is effective for anxiety, depression, and even chronic pain and substance abuse—you'll likely learn various mindfulness techniques and exercises. (ACT is based on CBT but includes a strong focus on mindfulness and values.) ACT patients are taught to notice and accept challenging thoughts and feelings.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy
There's also dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), an in-depth treatment that combines CBT with other approaches and addresses suicidal and self-harm behaviors, borderline personality disorders, eating disorders, and substance abuse problems, among other issues. Or you might try psychodynamic therapy, in which you learn to define your problems and understand how your history and past relationships may be influencing your current behavior.
General Counseling
If you're having problems at work or in your relationships or are just feeling "blah" about life, a licensed professional counselor might be a good person to start with. Counseling doesn't usually focus on treating severe mental health issues but helps people "figure out the factors that get in the way of being happy," says David Kaplan, PhD, chief professional officer at the American Counseling Association. Counselors aid in identifying "what is keeping you stuck and can help solve problems so you can be more fulfilled and better enjoy life," Kaplan says. Marriage and family therapists specialize in working with couples and families.