Shelly Proper , LPC

Shelly Proper is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Pennsylvania and is board certified by the National Board for Certified Counselors, a national credential that recognizes advanced professional standards. She brings more than 17 years of clinical experience across private practice, community agencies, the school system, and higher education, working with adults and diverse clinical needs.

Shelly has supported people facing psychiatric concerns, addictions, physical and emotional trauma, grief and end-of-life issues, menopause and healthy aging, and a range of career and life transitions. She also holds a post-master's certificate to teach psychology and has extensive experience with educational planning, which informs her work with clients pursuing personal and vocational growth.

Her counseling style is warm, empathic, and interactive. Shelly emphasizes collaboration, encouraging clients to be experts in their own lives while helping them identify options, build practical skills, and adopt perspectives that support healthier, more satisfying routines and relationships. She integrates evidence-informed approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Solution-Focused Therapy, while maintaining clear professional boundaries within the therapeutic relationship.

Shelly works with adults aged 25 and older and brings a thoughtful, client-centered approach to issues such as anxiety, trauma, depression, sleep concerns, caregiver stress, relationship and family challenges, grief, addictions, ADHD, and life purpose work. She aims to help clients find practical pathways forward and build sustainable coping and growth strategies.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people clarify what matters most to them and take practical steps toward those values while learning to accept difficult thoughts or feelings rather than getting stuck by them. It is often useful for stress, anxiety, and life transitions where building flexible coping is a priority.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thought patterns and behavior cycles and replacing them with more constructive strategies. CBT is commonly used for depression, anxiety, sleep difficulties, and habit-related concerns and provides concrete tools clients can use between sessions.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) centers on understanding emotional responses and attachment patterns, which can improve relationship dynamics and support processing of grief and trauma. It helps clients deepen emotional awareness and communicate needs more effectively.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Shelly works collaboratively with clients to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. She adjusts strategies as the work unfolds to ensure the approach remains practical and client-centered.

Online therapy with licensed professionals offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, support ongoing work between sessions, and increase access for people balancing caregiving, work, or mobility limitations while still receiving consistent therapeutic support.