Teletherapy for Vermont

Accepting new clients. Hi, there! I am interested in building our relationship's foundation on trust. I believe client and therapist relationship is the only way to produce positive outcomes. When this is established, a beautiful environment is formed to which you, the client, may take steps to heal. We will work together as a team to change negative thinking patterns to positive thinking patterns, fill your tool belt with healthy coping mechanisms and ultimately smash your goals of therapy. This is a non judgmental zone, there are no power struggles and you will feel welcomed.

I am a life coach, counselor with a social work background. I believe in empowerment and the power of resiliency. I work with clients who are going through challenges and I lead them to transformations by listening, affirming and guiding their strengths. I believe in never giving up and the importance of community and reaching out to others. The first step in healing and creating change is walking through the door. I respect all differences and all stories and I work with individuals and I encourage stories to unfold over time. I work well with single parents and those who struggle with parenting, life transitions, stress.

I am a dual licensed counselor (Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor AND Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor) with a background in Opiate addiction and working with Dual diagnosis patients. I am solution focused and believe a combination of trust, teamwork and the right information is the key to success. Specializing in depression, anxiety, addictions, relationship issues (couples counseling) AND court mandated counseling/ CRASH/DUI mandated counseling.

I currently have online individual sessions and some limited in person sessions available. Openings range between 9am and 6:30pm. I work collaboratively with clients to process where they are in life, evaluate what their current needs are, and identify what in their past and present could be addressed to make changes towards identified goals. I believe the therapeutic process can only work with dedication and the willingness to allow change. I work with my clients to identify ways that they can bring what we process in session into their everyday life so they have something to work on in between session.

I have had over 20 years of experience in private practice treating children, adults, families and couples in a rural area. I am well-versed in common issues such as adjustment disorders, depression and anxiety, childhood trauma and substance abuse and recovery.

Today's crazy pace of life as well as the stresses of family, money, school, employment, not to mention COVID-19 and politics, it is no wonder more and more people are looking for therapeutic support to find balance in their lives. I will strive to help you find that balance, working with and building on your strengths, already present within you, but lost in the chaos of present day life in a safe, supportive environment. We will work to build coping skills to deal with every day life, when things get tough. Life is full of ups and downs. You can learn new ways to shift your perception, to build on the strengths and positives.

I seek to help children, teens, and adults in need of positive support or whom may be struggling with behavior support questions, attention deficit, depression, anxiety, goal development, and family relational problems. I support personal goal coaching and provide a safe environment for exploration in a number of many other areas. I seek to bring elements of joy, comfort, and safety to the personal process of healing.

I use an integrative approach to therapy; person centered, trauma informed, strength based, and culturally sensitive. I believe that thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are influenced by many factors; genetics, biology, psychology, society, community, family, relationships, education, occupation, religion, and culture. I work with clients to help them gain an understanding of how their early relationships with others affect their current relationships through trauma-informed, CBT, attachment theory work. I am primarily interested in Internal Family Systems, Cognitive Behavioral, Dialectical Behavior, and Motivational Therapies.

I am committed to effect change through the process of psychotherapy using a direct, reality based approach. Although I draw from many different therapeutic modalities, my theoretical orientation is consistent with cognitive-behavioral theories. I believe social learning, modeling, and reinforcement all play a significant role in how ones personality developes, how one thinks, behaves, & feels as they get older. I believe refuting negative and irrational thinking will likely increase healthy feelings and behaviors that will greatly impact ones overall wellbeing. I believe that effective communication is the key to building healthy relationships, rebuilding severed relationships, & strengthening present ones.

My focus is on helping clients discover their authentic self and to replace unhelpful behaviors that no longer serve them. I work to help teens, adults, and families learn skills needed to manage anxiety, overcome depression, improve communication, and implement new ways of managing stress rather than turning to harmful coping strategies.

I believe that every one of us has the right to a positive life, healthy relationships, and a positive self-image. I believe that we have the capacity to achieve this life, especially when we receive the support that we need. I offer a warm, safe, genuine, supportive space where you may feel free to explore the issues that are most important to you without judgment. I offer compassion, unconditional acceptance, and the belief that feeling better is possible.

As a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) I specialize in the treatment of trauma and practice in a manner that provides a supportive environment that encourages and guides clients to expand their capacities and improve their quality of living.  My practice philosophy is rooted in the evidence-based practices of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT).

Quirky, queer, sensitive, creative and neurodivergent people often wonder why daily living and achieving “success” appears so much easier for others. You may struggle with; focus and organization, intense emotions, burnout, developing rewarding relationships, meeting goals, or a demoralized self-image You are not alone my friend! In fact 1 in 6 people are neurodivergent and we really do learn and think differently and need a different approach to therapy. Clients come to me when they are interested in working with their brains and not against them. My approach is playful, pragmatic and immediately helpful.

I believe that each client is their own best expert, and has come to counseling because they have hit a log jam or bump in the road. Often times they have unresolved issues in their past that have been triggered by current issues that have the same theme. Also, some clients come to counseling due to current situations that are more short-term. My counseling style is very respectful, collaborative, going at a pace that meets the client's needs. Validation of the client's strengths, feelings and stressors is key to helping them transcend traumas and negative experience of the past and present.

Welcome! I am Shelley Jackson and am looking forward to meeting you. I have over 20 years counseling experience working with children and adults. I believe in the inherent good in all people and want to help you live a life worth living. I treat my clients, whether adults or children, with deep respect and offer you a safe place in which to process your problems. I offer you my unconditional positive regard and genuineness as a person. I believe our relationship is the most important part of counseling and to that end I bring 100% of myself into our sessions.

In my clinical mental health practice, my goal is to support you in cultivating more peace, connection, and joy—honoring what this means to you and your individual experience. With over 15 years in the field, I have found that when one seeks support for the things that aren't working in their life, these things tend to get better. You can improve your world—I am here to walk with you on your path.

Do you want to make a change and don't know where to start? Perhaps you're doing well enough but want to go to your next level of potential. Together, we will be looking for options aligned with your personal and professional goals. Sometimes life can be especially difficult. If you or someone you love is hurting, or just need a new perspective, solutions are available. You deserve a life well lived. My definition of recovery is: The journey of becoming the person you were born to be. Everyone is recovering from something.

Seeking therapy is an act of courage and a significant step towards hope and healing. It is my mission to honor your courage and your lived experience, and to meet you with gentle curiosity, humility, and non-judgment. My approach is empowerment-focused and strengths-based. I believe in your capacity to heal and thrive. I will partner with you to understand your goals and offer evidence-based approaches based on your needs. Together, we can grow your capacity to tend to your wounds and rewrite your story.

Life presents challenges sometimes. Learning how to access our resiliency, explore negative thought patterns, and strengthen new positive beliefs assists us in creating and maintaining a thriving daily life. I recognize that each person is diverse, having a unique family, social, and cultural history, and that healing and growth can be dependent on numerous factors. I use therapy methods that help bridge communication with children, youth and adults. I hold also hold BA in studio art that contributes to the creativity element of my work with individuals.