Therapist profile
Shelly Proper, LPC
Licensed Professional Counselor - Family and parenting concerns
Continue with ShellyAbout
- CBT methods
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Emotion-focused work
About Shelly
Shelly Proper is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania with 17 years of clinical experience. She works with adults 25 and older on concerns such as stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addiction, grief, parenting strain, relationship difficulties, and sleep problems.
Shelly has worked in private practice, community agencies, schools, and higher education. She has experience with psychiatric concerns, substance use, physical and emotional trauma, end-of-life and hospice issues, and postpartum depression. She also has a post-master's certificate to teach psychology and has supported educational planning.
Her approach is practical and interactive. Sessions focus on helping people identify options and develop skills they can use at home. She uses clear strategies from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to address unhelpful thoughts and to build more workable habits.
Shelly also draws on dialectical behavior therapy and emotionally-focused methods when emotions and intense reactions are part of the problem. Solution-focused techniques are used to set concrete next steps and short-term goals. She emphasizes appropriate boundaries within the therapeutic relationship.
People who come for help with caregiver stress, codependency, divorce and separation, first responder issues, hoarding, life purpose, veteran and armed forces concerns, seasonal affective disorder, women's issues, and career change will find these topics familiar in sessions. Shelly prefers working with adults and keeps practical tools central to the work.
Sessions tend to be conversational and skill-oriented, with homework and simple exercises when useful. The aim is clearer thinking and more manageable day-to-day choices rather than complex labels or lengthy processes.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on noticing thoughts and values. It helps people choose actions that match what matters to them, even when difficult feelings are present. This can be useful for anxiety, low mood, and parenting stress.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps identify and change unhelpful thoughts and routines. Sessions often include simple exercises and practice tasks to reduce worry, improve sleep, or manage mood. CBT is practical and goal oriented.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills are used when strong emotions or overwhelm get in the way. These skills teach ways to tolerate distress, regulate emotions, and improve interpersonal effectiveness.
Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs and goals. That choice can evolve as sessions continue and priorities change.
Confirm the exact session formats before booking, since they are not listed here. Online sessions can make fitting therapy into a busy life easier - they reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins, and can be scheduled around work, caregiving, or other commitments. If a quieter setting, less bandwidth, or a camera-free option would help, note that when arranging your first session so practical accommodations can be discussed.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
17+ years
Listed in
Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, addiction, sleep problems, grief, parenting strain, relationship concerns, and related life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is interactive and practical. Sessions focus on skills, options, and clear next steps rather than lengthy theory.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 17 years of clinical experience across private practice, agencies, schools, and higher education.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Pennsylvania.
What languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.