Shelly Mentus

Compassionate LMHC guiding practical growth

LMHC Florida

Experience: 15 years in practice
Focus areas: Addictions, Relationship, Intimacy-related issues
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages: English

About Shelly

Shelly Mentus is a Florida-licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) with 15 years of clinical experience helping people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, relationship challenges, and addiction.

Background and approach

She combines practical strategies with compassionate support to help clients recognize unhelpful thinking patterns and develop skills for healthier coping and stronger emotional connections. Her background includes work with individuals and couples on parenting concerns, intimacy and relationship issues, trauma and abuse, and career or life-purpose questions.

Her approach blends evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with acceptance-based and emotion-focused techniques, tailoring interventions to each person’s goals and values. Shelly emphasizes trust, clear communication, and emotional attunement when working on problems like codependency, infidelity, family-of-origin dynamics, and substance-related concerns.

Outside of her clinical work she enjoys traveling, movies, bowling, and time with family and friends, and brings a respectful, nonjudgmental presence to the therapeutic relationship.

Therapeutic approaches for online work and how they help

CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors through practical exercises and skill-building; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday challenges. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combines acceptance strategies with values-based action to help people live more in line with what matters to them despite difficult thoughts or feelings. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathic listening and a nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship, offering space for clients to explore concerns like relationship difficulties, grief, and identity issues.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Shelly collaborates with clients to determine which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She draws from these approaches flexibly, inviting feedback and adjusting strategies so the work feels aligned with each person’s values and circumstances.

Online therapy offers practical advantages for busy lives, with options for video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different schedules and comfort levels. These formats can make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access regular support, and practice skills between sessions while working around daily responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Shelly commonly address?

Shelly works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and intimacy-related difficulties, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, and career or life-purpose questions.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her style blends practical, skills-based work with empathic listening; she uses CBT, acceptance and emotion-focused strategies to help clients change thinking patterns while honoring emotions and values.

How much clinical experience does she have?

Shelly has practiced as a licensed therapist for 15 years, bringing that clinical experience to concerns such as codependency, communication problems, and caregiver stress.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is licensed as an LMHC in Florida with license number FL LMHC MH23899 and provides services based in Florida.

Which languages and international options are available?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats does she offer?

Clients can work with her via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on scheduling and platform provisions.

How is cost handled for sessions?

Costs vary with location and therapist availability; services use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What is the process for beginning therapy?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

AddictionsRelationship issuesIntimacy-related issuesAnger managementCoaching

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyLGBTFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse GriefParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepression Coping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDrug and alcohol addictionEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMulticultural concernsSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Gottman MethodMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

15+ years

Licensed

Florida

Languages

English