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SP Portrait of Shelly Proper

Shelly Proper

Compassionate counselor guiding practical change

LPC Pennsylvania

Experience
17 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Sleeping
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Languages
English

About Shelly

Shelly Proper is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Pennsylvania with 17 years of clinical experience.

Background and approach

She works with adults 25 and older who face concerns such as stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, sleep problems, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and family difficulties, parenting challenges, career and life transitions, and compassion fatigue.

Her practice also addresses caregiving stress, codependency, divorce and separation, first responder and veteran issues, hoarding, hospice and end-of-life counseling, postpartum depression, seasonal affective disorder, ADHD, and women's issues. Shelly brings experience from independent practice, agency settings, schools, and higher education, and she has a post-master's certificate to teach psychology and experience with educational planning.

Her approach is warm, empathetic, and interactive, focused on helping clients identify practical options, skills, and perspectives that support meaningful change. She emphasizes client expertise and clear boundaries within the therapeutic alliance.

Shelly integrates methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Therapy to tailor care to each person’s needs.

Practical Approaches for Online Care

Shelly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) as part of her approach. CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms and improve daily functioning, which can be helpful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and many stress-related concerns. ACT emphasizes values-based action and psychological flexibility, helping people accept difficult thoughts and feelings while committing to meaningful life directions, useful for managing chronic stress, grief, and life transitions.

Choosing the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. Shelly works with each client to explore goals, preferences, and the problems at hand, then blends methods that best support progress rather than applying a single technique. This collaborative planning helps clients feel involved and clear about the steps of therapy.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options can make it easier to access regular support from Pennsylvania without rearranging daily routines, and they allow continued therapeutic work between sessions when needed.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does she commonly address?
Shelly supports adults with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, sleep difficulties, depression, grief, addictions, relationship and family concerns, parenting challenges, career changes, and related issues like compassion fatigue and ADHD.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is warm, empathetic, and interactive, encouraging clients to be experts on their lives while collaborating to build skills, options, and perspectives that support change.
What is her professional background and experience?
She has 17 years of clinical experience across independent practice, agencies, school systems, and higher education, including work in educational planning and a post-master's teaching certificate in psychology.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Shelly is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Pennsylvania; her license is listed as PA LPC PC004284.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats does she use for online work?
She offers a range of remote session formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different preferences and needs.
How are costs and subscriptions handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps should I take to begin working with her?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to her availability.

Areas of expertise

Also works with

AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Additional focus areas

Caregiver issues and stressCodependencyDivorce and separationFirst responder issuesHoardingHospice and end-of-life counselingLife purposeVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesPostpartum depressionSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Women's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Solution-Focused Therapy

Experience

17+ years

Licensed

Pennsylvania

Languages

English