Profile / United States
Amy Shafer, LCSW
California
Licensed Clinical Social Worker - Anxiety and Grief
See online therapy options- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Mindfulness practice
About Amy
Amy Shafer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 30 years of practice. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, and issues around addiction and intimacy. She also addresses sleep problems, parenting strain, and compassion fatigue.
She trained in psychology and human development at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and completed a Master of Social Work at San Diego State University. She has been licensed in California since 1994 and has worked in multiple care settings over three decades. Much of her recent work has focused on adults and geriatric individuals and families.
Amy uses practical, evidence-informed methods to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and habits. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, mindfulness approaches, emotion-focused work, and client-centered techniques. Sessions emphasize clear steps and tools people can try between meetings.
Her contemporary focus includes family systems, interpersonal recovery after trauma and loss, and problem solving around life stressors. She supports people who are sorting out family of origin issues, blended family challenges, caregiver stress, chronic illness impacts, and communication or commitment concerns.
Amy aims to offer straightforward, skills-based support for coping with big changes. She brings decades of experience and a practical mindset to helping people set goals, practice new responses, and adjust routines that get in the way of daily functioning.
How CBT, ACT and client-centered work translate online
Amy integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and client-centered approaches into practical online sessions. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new responses through short exercises and behavioral experiments. ACT emphasizes noticing values and taking committed actions even when difficult thoughts or feelings are present. Client-centered work gives space for people to tell their story and shape the work around what feels most pressing.Deciding which approach to use is part of the first conversations. The therapist and client review goals, daily routines, and preferences, then try methods that fit those needs. Treatment can mix techniques so someone learns skills from several approaches and finds what helps in everyday life.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current online options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions around work, caregiving, medical appointments, or limited travel. Some people prefer shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, while others use full sessions for deeper work. The focus is on practical ways to apply skills between meetings and to make progress that fits a person’s day-to-day life.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
30+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, addictions, sleep problems, parenting strain, and compassion fatigue among other issues.
How does she use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy?
She uses CBT to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and habits and to practice alternative responses. Tools and short exercises are used to change patterns between sessions.
What is her professional background?
She holds a Master of Social Work from San Diego State University and has practiced for 30 years in a range of settings, with recent focus on adult and geriatric work.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California and has held that license since 1994.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a 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 you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.