“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.

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.

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.

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

— diana s.

What Clients Say

“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 by 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.

“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.

“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 in order 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.

Education, Licensure & Certification

Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist MFC 43726

M.A. Psychology, Saint Mary’s College, Moraga (2001)
B.S. Psychology, Saint Mary’s College, Moraga (1998)

Professional Memberships

  • Board of Directors, CAST-OC (Couples and Sex Therapists of Orange County)

  • Member, Orange County Chapter of Marriage and Family Therapists

  • Member, IAEDP Orange County Chapter (International Association of Eating Disorder Professionals)

  • Clinical Member, California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists

  • National Association of Professional Women

Founder, OC Shrinks — A professional community supporting collaboration and mentorship 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)

Media & Community Contributions

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