Judith 'Judi' Shaffer, LICSW, LCSW

Judith 'Judi' Shaffer is a licensed clinical social worker with 29 years of professional experience, holding LICSW and LCSW credentials. LICSW stands for Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and LCSW stands for Licensed Clinical Social Worker, reflecting advanced training and state licensure in clinical social work in Massachusetts and California.

Shaffer works with adults managing stress and anxiety, relationship concerns, motivation and confidence issues, self-esteem challenges, and depression. She helps people navigate life transitions and the kinds of interpersonal or family difficulties that can undermine well-being, including caregiving stress, codependency, communication problems, and separation or divorce. Her practice also addresses concerns related to aging, body image, eating and food-related issues, and feelings of isolation or lack of purpose.

In sessions she cultivates an open, nonjudgmental environment where thoughts and feelings can be shared and explored. Shaffer recognizes the courage it takes to begin therapy and partners with clients to clarify goals and develop practical coping strategies. Located in California, she combines established therapeutic approaches to support clearer communication, improved coping, and more satisfying relationships.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Judith 'Judi' Shaffer draws on client-centered therapy to create a collaborative, empathetic space where clients' experiences guide the work. This approach emphasizes understanding each person's perspective and building goals that reflect their values, which can be helpful for relationship concerns, self-esteem, and life transitions.

She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT offers practical tools for managing anxiety, depression, and stress by teaching skills for coping and problem solving.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Shaffer works together with each person to determine what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process can include mixing approaches to address both immediate concerns and underlying patterns.

Online therapy with Shaffer is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, giving flexibility to choose the communication style that suits a person's schedule and comfort level. These options make it easier to access consistent care while balancing work, family, and other responsibilities.