Shelly Proper

Shelly Proper is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Pennsylvania who helps people manage stress, anxiety, anger, grief, depression, and related concerns. She also supports those dealing with trauma, sleep problems, addiction, caregiving strain, and life transitions. Her approach is warm and interactive, centered on practical tools people can use day to day.

Shelly brings 17 years of clinical experience from private practice, agencies, schools, and higher education. She has worked with a wide range of concerns including psychiatric conditions, substance issues, physical and emotional trauma, end-of-life and hospice situations, and postpartum depression. She also offers perspectives on career, life coaching, and healthy aging.

In sessions she uses short-term skill building and longer-term exploration. Techniques come from cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavior therapy, acceptance and commitment therapy, and emotionally focused therapy. She helps people identify options, practice new skills, and set realistic goals that fit their lives.

Shelly values collaboration and clear boundaries in the therapeutic relationship. She encourages clients to be the experts on their own lives while offering structure and feedback. Her style tends to be empathetic, pragmatic, and goal-oriented.

People 25 and older are seen. To begin, she asks clients to think about what they want to change and what would feel most helpful in a first session.

Therapeutic approaches you can use online

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, then choose actions that match their values. It is often used for anxiety, depression, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and practicing new ways of thinking and acting. It is commonly used for anxiety, sleep problems, depression, and coping skills practice. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills to reduce intense reactions and improve day-to-day functioning.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That process may include trying different techniques and adjusting the plan as progress is made.

Confirm the therapist's current online session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life and reduce travel time. It can also allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, or avoid video when bandwidth is limited. Licensed professionals typically adapt ACT, CBT, or DBT tools for remote use so people can practice skills between meetings and apply them to real situations.