Shelby Friery, LPC

Shelby Friery is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and counselor educator who brings a blend of clinical practice and academic work to her clients. She has a strong background in working with individuals from pre-k through age 18 while also having experience across the lifespan, reflecting a broad range of counseling experience. Her foundational training is in school counseling, and she currently serves as a professor who conducts research and helps train the next generation of counselors.

In sessions she emphasizes collaboration, partnering with clients to define and reach their goals. Her style is grounded in patience, support, understanding, and compassion, with a bit of humor woven in to help make the work sustainable and human. Shelby focuses on helping clients find the success they want by tailoring the process to each person’s needs and strengths.

She values practical, goal-oriented work and looks forward to supporting clients through change, growth, and healing. As both a practitioner and an educator, she combines evidence-informed practice with an emphasis on real-world skills and compassionate care.

Therapeutic approaches that shape online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify their values and accept difficult thoughts or feelings so they can take meaningful action toward what matters most. It is useful for stress, anxiety, and navigating life changes where avoidance has become limiting.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on the relationship between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. By identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors, clients can reduce anxiety, improve mood, and build coping skills for everyday challenges.

Motivational Interviewing is a collaborative, strengths-based method that helps people resolve ambivalence and find personal motivation for change. It works well when someone feels stuck or uncertain about the next steps.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey. Shelby Friery collaborates with each client to determine which techniques or combination of approaches best match their goals, needs, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy offers flexible options like video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to access care from different locations and on a schedule that fits daily life. These formats support continuity of care and allow licensed professionals to provide effective, goal-oriented work in ways that suit individual routines and comfort levels.