“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.

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“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.