About Shelley

Could I ever be good enough?

I felt like I was never enough. I personally know the pain of trying to get it right by meeting others’ expectations. I walked the path of trying harder and harder.

You would not have recognized me back then.

I was stuck in a career that I hated. Pounds over my natural weight. Struggling through life and feeling no joy. I just tried to be perfect only to find that it was never enough.

I grew up as a “good girl”…

…so I worked very hard to get it right, to try to get my loved ones’ approval, to meet their expectations.

I earned really good grades, followed the rules, did the right things, tried to please the people that mattered.

I was praised and rewarded for the accomplishments, the choices, and the success so I never understood why I was so unhappy.

I turned to food for comfort…

… and played the refrain “if I were just thin enough, then I would be happy.”

On the outside, I appeared “successful” and no one noticed how hard I was working all the time or how much pain I was in.

Quite bluntly: counseling saved my life.

Through therapy, I gained the ability to silence the “inner mean girl” in my mind who was constantly telling me that I sucked – sabotaging every possible moment of joy and success.

Once I learned how to shut up that nasty voice, my life was never the same.

What did I do?

 Over a number of years, I transitioned my career, made peace with food and my body, and created better relationships – romantic, professional and other.

 I became the woman I was born to be.

I did not do this by trying harder.  In fact, it was easier than how I lived before.  I did it by learning to listen to myself and find answers with the help of a trusted counselor.

After experiencing the results of counseling for myself, I knew that I wanted to give this experience to others as well.

I want to help others lessen their pain, stop living like super heroes, be resilient, stop giving away pieces of themselves for others’ approval, and live more satisfying lives from the inside out.
I know that this is possible.

Therapy is an incredible process of healing, transforming your mindset and actions, your relationships, then your whole life – with a partner helping you the whole time.

This is a life process for me.

Because I love this process, it makes me feel excited and grateful. I am a seeker so I am constantly expanding my training and knowledge. For example, I was taught as a life coach by Dr. Martha Beck and as a facilitator in shame resilience by Dr. Brene′ Brown. (They are both as awesome in “real life” as they seem in their writing and online, by the way.)

 Thanks for reading my story.

Just be willing to believe that there is another way.

When I started this process, I really wanted to know how it was all going to end – what the answer was before I knew the question.  I completely understand if you feel unsure and a little frightened but I believe that once you consider that another way may exist, things will align to assist you.

Don’t let any more time pass!

Please give me a call and let’s talk about what is going on in your life.  I know that this process helped me when I was in pain and did not know what to do.  I would love to be with you as you ask your questions and find your answers.

(949) 922-7800