Shelby Gordon

Bio

I seek to help people feel seen, heard and understood. Every person’s story matters. I love to see people grow in their understanding of themselves, their goals, their strengths, and their innate value. It is an honor to support people as they move toward wellness.

I am a Licensed Social Worker. I earned my Master’s of Social Work from California Baptist University in Riverside and my Bachelor’s in Intercultural Studies from Moody Bible Institute in Chicago. I have experience providing therapy at a community counseling center, for a county behavioral health department, and within a school district. I have had the opportunity to work with children as young as six-years-old up to adults in their fifties. In addition to providing individual therapy, I have facilitated social skills and coping skills groups for middle schoolers as well as mindfulness-meditation groups for adults.

My initial goal when meeting with a client is to establish a trusting relationship. It is important to me that my clients can share freely and explore what they want out of our time together. I use an eclectic therapeutic approach. I find it helpful to tailor my approach to my client’s specific goals. I tend to gravitate toward Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Solution Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT), Motivational Interview (MI), and elements of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT). I am also trained in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT).

When providing therapy, I take a holistic view of the person considering biological, psychological, social and spiritual factors. Additionally, it is important to me to recognize the systems clients are interacting with and the environments in which they find themselves. Most of my work has been with those experiencing anxiety, depression, domestic or intimate partner violence, grief and loss, trauma and the ongoing impact of trauma, relationship concerns, difficulty adjusting after a life transition, low self esteem, difficulty at work, difficulty with executive functioning, and stress.

Working as a therapist has provided so many opportunities to learn and grow. When I am not working, I enjoy walking along the lake, spending time with friends and family, rock climbing, listening to live music, and reading in coffee shops.

In-network insurances

Blue Cross Blue Shield • Self pay • Aetna

Specialties

ADD/ADHD Behavior Therapies • Addiction/Substance Abuse • Adjustment Disorder • Alcoholism • Anger Management • Anxiety • Bipolar Disorder • Borderline Personality Disorder • Daytime Sleepiness • DBT/CBT • Depression • Domestic Violence • Grief and Loss/Bereavement • Impulsive Eating Issues • Life Coaching • Life Transition • Major Depressive Disorder • Mindfulness • Mood Disorders • Occupational Difficulties • Personality Disorder • Phobias/Irrational Fears • Play Therapy • Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Trauma • Relationship Issues • Sadness • Schizophrenia • Self Esteem • Social Anxiety • Stress/Worry • Suicidal Thoughts

Education and training

• California Baptist University, Master of Social Work

Honors and awards

• Outstanding MSW Capstone Project Award, The Effects of Resilience Building Interventions on Adolescent Children with ACE Scores of 4 and Above

Languages spoken

• English

Pronouns

• she/her/hers