Shelly Kessinger, LPC

Meet with Shelly

• Online appointments.
• Preteens (10–12), Teens (13–17), Young Adults (18–25), Adults (26–64), and Older Adults (65+)
• Languages: English.

Payment options: Carelon, Cigna, Aetna, and Sana.

Availability and insurance coverage are confirmed before scheduling.

Request an appointment with Shelly

Shelly's focus

• Christian Spirituality
• Divorce / Separation
• Relationship Concerns

Professional profile

I graduated from UT Austin in 2006 with a Bachelors of Science degree in Psychology. I then graduated from the University of Houston with my Masters of Education in Counseling in 2009. I have previously worked in non-profit community mental health centers, in-patient clinics, and private practice. My background includes youth counseling, family counseling, couples and marriage counseling, and Christian counseling.

Welcome

Hi! I'm Shelly. I have been a Licensed Professional Counselor for 16 years. My passion is working with couples and relationships. Though, I also enjoy providing Christian counseling, teen counseling, and counseling for young adults. I am passionate about providing practical solutions, getting to the root of the problem, and helping clients learn to communicate in a healthy way.

How I work

Clients usually describe me as friendly, professional, smart, and kind. Respectfully, I want to get to the root of the problem and that sometimes means looking at a problem or a situation from a different perspective. I will always support my clients and always be respectful of where they are at, but I may be asking challenging or thought-provoking questions from time to time.

What Shelly helps with

• Christian Spirituality
• Divorce / Separation
• Relationship Concerns
• Boundaries
• Infidelity / Betrayal
• Pre-Marital Counseling
• Aging & Later-Life Adjustment
• Anxiety
• Career Direction
• Caregiving Stress
• Depression
• Grief and Loss
• Infertility
• Intergenerational Trauma
• Midlife Transitions
• Parenting
• Self-Esteem
• Stress
• Work-Life Balance

Who Shelly works with

• Christians
• Couples & Partners
• College Students
• Young Professionals
• Parents & New Parents

How Shelly works

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
• Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT)
• Gottman Method
• Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
• Mindfulness
• Person-Centered
• Narrative Therapy
• Strengths-Based Approach

Therapist spotlight

What made you decide to become a counselor?

My parents divorced when I was a young child, and I have been curious about relationships and communication ever since then. I really enjoy learning how people communicate with each other, as well as, teaching healthy communication skills.

If you could teach the world one skill or technique to improve their lives, what would it be?

Healthy communication! I truly believe more problems can be solved through healthy communication. Regardless of the relationship, regardless of the individual - I do believe communication really is an important skill that can help.

If you could recommend one book to all your clients, what would it be?

Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand was a powerful read for me.

How do you personally practice self-care?

My self-care includes hot tea, taking baths, reading books, talking with my family and friends, playing games with my kiddos, and going for nature walks.

Have you personally been in counseling and if so, what did you learn about yourself?

Yes, absolutely. I believe the strongest and best counselors have been in counseling and done the work themselves. Self-awareness is a skill.

What inspires you to help others?

I love helping clients learn more about themselves. I love solving complex problems and teaching healthy communication skills. I believe the more work you do on yourself, the more positive ripple effect it will have towards others.

Who is your ideal client?

Anyone wanting to learn about themselves. Anyone willing to answer tough questions. Anyone open to seeing things from a different perspective.

How do you relate to Mindfulness? How do you incorporate it in your sessions?

I use mindfulness as a core concept of DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy). Mindfulness to me means not thinking about the past, not thinking about the future, and staying aware of the present moment.

If you are hosting a dinner party, who are the 3 people you would invite and why?

Aaron Sorkin because I think he is such a talented writer, Jonathan Roumie because I really loved watching the Chosen, and my husband - so he can be there with me to meet these people and have that experience with me!