Amy Shafer, LCSW

Amy Shafer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with three decades of experience helping people manage anxiety, depression, grief, and life changes. She practices using practical, skills-based approaches that focus on what works in daily life. Her style is straightforward and supportive, aimed at helping people find things they can use between sessions.

She draws on cognitive behavioral ideas to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different ways of responding. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy principles are woven into sessions to help people align actions with values even when feelings are hard. Client-centered work shapes the relationship so people feel heard and respected while they try new strategies.

Her recent focus has been on adult and geriatric concerns, including caregiving stress, chronic illness, and adjusting to life transitions. She also works with issues like trauma and abuse, family of origin problems, intimacy-related struggles, and addiction concerns. Practical tools for sleep, coping, and communication are common parts of her work.

Amy emphasizes collaboration and concrete problem solving. She helps people set small goals and practices that build confidence over time. Sessions often include skill practice, behavioral experiments, and attention to patterns that get in the way of valued living.

Based in California, she brings wide experience from many settings into a calm, steady approach. People who want clear, usable strategies and a respectful listening space may find her style a good fit.

How CBT and ACT translate to online therapy

Amy integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy into her online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people identify thoughts and behaviors that contribute to distress and then test new, healthier responses. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and coping with stress. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy focuses on clarifying values and taking meaningful action even when feelings are difficult; this can help with grief, chronic illness adjustment, and motivation.

Clients and the therapist decide together which approach to try first. Amy treats the choice as a collaboration and will adapt methods to fit goals and daily life. She often blends skill practice, values-based planning, and gentle attention to emotions so the plan fits what someone actually wants to change.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people work through exercises and use visual tools. Phone sessions can be useful when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging offer quick check-ins, homework support, and flexible ways to stay connected between longer appointments. These options aim to make therapy fit work, caregiving, or mobility needs rather than requiring travel.