Shelly Flachs, LCSW

Shelly Flachs is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who brings 12 years of clinical experience to her practice, guiding people through grief, trauma, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. As an LCSW she holds a license to provide clinical social work and psychotherapy, and she shapes her work around empowerment, practical strategies, and each person’s existing strengths.

Shelly uses evidence-informed methods drawn from cognitive-behavioral theory, emotional freedom technique (EFT), and the Safe and Sound Protocol, tailoring each session to meet individual needs. She emphasizes a solution-oriented stance while honoring personal history and resilience, helping clients set clear goals and build step-by-step plans to reach them.

Her approach creates a respectful and positive space for exploration, combining structured tools with empathic support. Whether addressing stress and anxiety, trauma and abuse, or life's shifting circumstances, Shelly aims to help people increase coping skills, clarify priorities, and move toward a more fulfilling daily life.

Beginning therapy can feel challenging, and Shelly recognizes the courage that step requires. She works collaboratively with each person to identify priorities and craft personalized plans, remaining committed to client growth and long-term well-being.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Shelly commonly integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) as core approaches. CBT focuses on the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and offers practical techniques to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. DBT teaches skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improving relationships, which can be helpful for overwhelming emotions and interpersonal challenges.

She also draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) to help people understand and shift patterns in close relationships; EFT emphasizes identifying emotional responses and creating new ways of connecting. Together these approaches provide both skill-building and deeper emotional work depending on what a person needs.

Finding the right fit is a collaborative process. Shelly works with each person to explore goals, preferences, and life circumstances, and she helps determine which methods are most likely to be useful. That collaboration continues as goals evolve and new priorities emerge.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how care is delivered - through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging - so therapy can fit into busy schedules and varied lifestyles. Licensed professionals can provide consistent, accessible support across these formats, allowing clients to work on skills, process emotions, and make steady progress from locations that suit them.