“Shelby has been an amazing mentor to me in my own therapeutic practice. Her candor, warmth, and relatable nature make her my go-to person whenever I’m feeling out of alignment.”

— Sabrina H.

Meet Shelby

I’m a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with over twenty years of experience helping individuals and couples heal, grow, and strengthen their relationships.

My work is rooted in compassion and depth-oriented therapy for those navigating grief, anxiety, life transitions, and relationship challenges — offered both in-person in Newport Beach and through secure telehealth sessions across California.

“I highly recommend Shelby to my colleagues, as a fellow therapist and holistic health advocate.”

— Diana S.

My Approach

I believe lasting change comes from understanding both the mind and body. My approach blends talk therapy with somatic awareness, drawing from my background as a yoga instructor and birth doula.

I’m trained in EMDR and integrate mindfulness-based and evidence-informed modalities to meet each client’s unique needs. Whether you’re working through trauma, rebuilding trust, or seeking greater self-understanding, I offer a space grounded in warmth, integrity, and care.

“Shelby is like a magnet for connecting people from all walks of life. The OC Shrinks community has been essential in starting my career and private practice in Newport Beach. ”

— Megan S.

Beyond the Therapy Room

Outside of my clinical practice, I’m the founder of OC Shrinks, a growing community designed to connect and support fellow therapists. Whether you’re seeking personal growth or professional connection, I’m passionate about helping you feel grounded, capable, and seen.

Education, Licensure & Certification

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist MFC 43726

Founder, OC Shrinks — A professional community supporting collaboration among Orange County therapists.

Certifications

• EMDR Level 1 Certified, The Institute for Creative Mindfulness (2016)

• RYT 500, Advanced Yoga Teacher, Cloud Nine Yoga (2009)

• Certified Birth Doula (CD), Full Circle, Berkeley (1996)

“I saw Shelby when my marriage was ending. I was angry and had many dark thoughts going through my head. Shelby was able to reach that place of trust that I needed to really open up. I found the sessions very low-key, but we had some tremendous breakthroughs. I shared thoughts with Shelby that I never revealed to anyone.”

— Mike P.

Media & Community Contributions

Shelby contributes regularly to the mental health community through her writing and thought leadership.

• Bold Journey (2024): Shelby talks about her evolution as a therapist.

• Collabs.io Mag (2022): Learn about Shelby’s entrepreneurial journey in healthcare and what she has in store for The OC Shrinks.

• ShoutoutLA (2021): Interview feature on Shelby’s therapeutic work.

• If you’d like to read an article about mindfulness, please click here. To read an article about self love and resolutions, please click here.

“Shelby is absolutely amazing. I started seeing her during a period of depression in 2016. She helped me become my best, truest self. Today is my birthday, and I was reflecting on my life, and I had to stop what I was doing to write this. Shelby, you are one of my angels, and I am so grateful for your wisdom, compassion, encouragement, and guidance that I so badly needed for that dark time. I just completed my first yoga teacher training and can see now that everything has happened exactly as it should. I am living alone and love it. You were my pillar, and I will never forget it; nor be able to fully express my deep respect and gratitude for you! I just wanted to reach out and say THANK YOU. Thank you for being such a pivotal part of my journey.”

— Caroline M.