Shelby Dwyer (she/her)

Compassion is key to our work together, as is developing an awareness of your worth and your values. In a relationship with others, NVC helps us recognize that we are all autonomous beings and effective, clear communication is key to getting our needs met. It removes the "good" and "bad" labels we may impose on things and instead encourages us to be curious and nonjudgmental. It's quite liberating!

My eclectic approach draws from evidence-based theories and yogic philosophy. I've been a practitioner of yoga for over two decades and have been a certified 200-hour teacher since 2018. I've found through understanding and applying the Yamas, or ethical principles of yoga, we can learn to live a more peaceful and healthier life. For example, "Ahimsa," non-harming, invites us to take a non-judgmental stance toward ourselves and others so we can focus more on the important things.

As a teacher and student of yoga and meditation, I have found it to be incredibly supportive for clients in reducing stress, increasing their awareness, and inducing compassion for one's self. I encourage noticing how one feels within their body, witnessing what thoughts and emotions arise, and a focus on the present moment when things feel challenging. I'm happy to offer meditations to client in sessions, as well.

You are the expert of yourself; I'm here to support you with my training and skills to assist you in uncovering the answers within. I use an intersectional approach and recognize there are many factors and layers to your life, and when we can examine all aspects of our identity we move toward accepting ourselves as we are. I am committed to being an inclusive, anti-racist practitioner and do not shy away from discussing relevant social justice topics as they may arise within therapy.

As a teacher and student of yoga and meditation, I have found it to be incredibly supportive for clients in reducing stress, increasing their awareness, and inducing compassion for one's self. I encourage noticing how one feels within their body, witnessing what thoughts and emotions arise, and a focus on the present moment when things feel challenging. I'm happy to offer meditations to client in sessions, as well.

Therapists are expertly trained in certain theories but they aren't the expert of you - you know yourself best! In sessions, clients uncover and highlight their strengths, explore how they feel at the present moment when discussing certain topics of their choosing, and empower them to identify their unmet needs. The therapist's role is to offer unconditional support to create a brave space where clients uncover truths to help connect them to their authentic selves.

EMDR is an amazing resource that believes just as the body can heal a wound, the brain can heal itself as well. This therapy helps clients heal past disturbances in their life through a structured approach that uses bilateral stimulation or "BLS" (e.g., eye movements, tapping, audio) to target and reprocess unpleasant memories stored in one's brain. Essentially, your brain does all the healing work while you reprocess your memories in an adaptive manner.

We will discuss your concerns within the context of your life. We'll work together to uncover/highlight your strengths, empower you to make the changes you desire, and help you connect more deeply to your authentic self, all within a supportive, non-judgmental space.

I recognize that you are a unique individual with your own story, and I am ready to hear all of it as you feel comfortable sharing. I'm excited to help support you in discovering your truest, most authentic self. Our sessions will focus on what you need, and I will never tell you what to do. Together, we'll face this brave work with compassion and grace.