Dr. Brian Shaffer

Dr. Brian Shaffer is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor who brings 20 years of practice to his work. He focuses on practical, person-centered therapy that helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, depression, anger, and relationship concerns. His approach centers on understanding what matters to each person and helping them take steps toward a steadier life.

He uses a blend of approaches rather than a single method. That includes Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people clarify values and take meaningful action, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, and Attachment-Based work to repair trust and connection. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills and client-centered listening also appear in his sessions when useful.

Dr. Shaffer often addresses how past trauma, loss, or substance use links to current problems. He helps people talk through those histories, reduce harmful patterns, and build routines that support recovery and emotional balance. He also weaves a person’s spiritual beliefs into treatment when the client wants that included.

He has worked in mental health, addiction, trauma, grief, loss, bereavement, and spiritual care settings across his career. Those roles shaped his focus on practical strategies for coping, relapse prevention, and rebuilding relationships. He practices in Pennsylvania and communicates in English.

People who want to begin can use the site’s Start Therapy button to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule based on the therapist’s availability. Cost varies with location and uses a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

How his approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people identify what matters to them and take small steps toward those values. Online sessions can support values-based goal setting and simple behavioral experiments between appointments. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on noticing and changing thought and behavior patterns that cause distress. In virtual conversations, this often looks like collaborative problem solving, homework between sessions, and practicing new skills in daily life.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work together with the client to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. Sessions can mix approaches as needed so the plan adapts over time based on what helps most.

The therapist’s biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow for shorter check-ins when time is limited, and remove travel time so people can use a break at work or a quiet hour at home. Licensed professionals often use these practical benefits to keep treatment consistent and focused on everyday changes rather than on attendance logistics.