About Shelby!

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Testimonial

“I just wanted to let Shelby and you (Katie) know how happy my daughter was leaving the appointment last night. She said the perspective and tools on how to process her dealing with a student as school were excellent. She was very excited. Thank you!”

–Anonymous Parent

Meet Shelby, a creative family and child therapist at Wisdom Within Counseling.

Hi, I’m Shelby! I am a child and family therapist who takes a creative, active, and embodied approach to therapy. I am passionate about working with anxious adolescents and teens, as well as individuals navigating chronic illness and chronic pain.

Other Areas I specialize in include:

Professional Experiences as a Family and Child Therapist

I am master’s level with a specialty in drama therapy. I work with adolescents, teens, young adults, and their families. Additionally, I help those struggling with anxiety, depression, and life transitions to process emotions and develop healthy coping strategies. Furthermore, I believe that the goal of therapy is to discover our inner strengths to help us cope with the challenges of life. This process looks different for everyone, and it is my goal to create a flexible, creative approach unique to each client. As a family and child therapist, my approach to therapy is trauma-informed and influenced by Internal Family Systems, Role Theory, and also Narrative Therapy.

What is Drama Therapy?

Drama therapy is the intentional use of drama and theatre to achieve therapeutic goals. Drama therapy approaches are active, experiential, and embodied- this makes therapy fun! Using dramatic elements like storytelling, improvisation, and role play, we come to better understand ourselves and our relationships. Because drama therapy is an embodied practice and does not rely on verbal communication, it is appropriate for every person at every stage of life.

Using a dramatic approach to therapy makes the process less scary and more approachable. Think about a time when you wanted to ask someone a question or talk about a specific topic, but were too scared, embarrassed, or uncomfortable to do so. You might have tried starting with, “I have a friend who…” and found that it made it easier to talk things through, like there was more distance between you and the uncomfortable topic or question. This distance is the magic of drama therapy! By stepping into another role or placing our personal stories in metaphor, we feel safer to discuss difficult topics and explore new ways of feeling and thinking. We can then take the lessons we learn in the safer, dramatic space and bring them into the “real world.”

What Does Drama Therapy Look Like?

Drama therapy can look like many things! I may encourage the use of puppets to explore topics that can be difficult to talk about, like loss and change. We can use techniques like role reversal to understand different perspectives and begin to see ourselves in a new way. We use puppets, figurines, and drawings to tell stories that are a metaphor for our own lives, helping us to gain a better understanding of our emotions. I especially enjoy helping clients “rehearse” for new and difficult situations, giving clients the opportunity to practice coping skills in a safer environment before bringing them into the “real world.”

Who is Drama Therapy For?

Drama therapy’s flexible approach makes it perfect for everyone! Do you or your child find it difficult to talk about emotions, trauma, or other difficult topics? Drama therapy helps us to talk about these things through metaphor and roles outside ourselves. Unlike talk therapy, drama therapy’s active and embodied approach allows us to communicate without words, making it perfect for those who finding talking difficult or uncomfortable. Adolescents, teens, and also young adults respond well to drama therapy’s playful and active approach.

Drama Therapy is a great option for couples looking to connect again!

Drama therapy’s fun, playful approach can help you and your partner begin to communicate again. If you are struggling to transition to a new phase of life, or move past a difficult experience in your relationship, drama therapy can help. With dramatic approaches, there are ways to talk about difficult subjects with ease and playfulness. Most couples find that a hybrid of drama and also talk-therapy approaches helps them to communicate in more positive, productive ways. Get started in couples therapy today to receive support.

To start, click the button below for your phone consult to work with our family and child therapist, Shelby.

Although drama therapy can be both highly physical and verbal, it does not need to be either. We can communicate with our bodies, our words, or both. This flexibility makes drama therapy appropriate for individuals of all ages and abilities.

Education and Training

I hold a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, specializing in drama therapy, through Lesley University. Additionally, I earned my bachelor’s degree in musical theater from Saint Michael’s College in Vermont.

I completed the Level One- Foundations of Intimacy certification through Intimacy Directors and Coordinators and plan to continue my studies in the hope of becoming a certified Intimacy Coordinator. Throughout my career, I plan to pursue further education and certification in fields like Voice-Movement Therapy, Developmental Transformations, and Internal Family Systems.

More About Me

A theatre-kid at heart, I spend a lot of time reading plays, listening to musicals, and reading books on theatre history. I also stay involved in the world of theatre by continuing to act, direct, choreograph, and teach.

When not being a theatre nerd, you can find me cooking, watching a documentary, or playing with my cat, Rosie!

My Favorite…

Color: Light Blue

Book: David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

Movie: The documentary Best Worst Thing That Ever Could Have Happened

Food: Potatoes in any form!

Song: Morning Comes by Delta Rae

To begin, click the button below for a phone consult to work with Shelby.