Amy Shafer

Amy Shafer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with three decades of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and major life changes. She uses practical, down-to-earth approaches to help people find tools that fit their lives. Amy is based in California and works in English. Her practice emphasizes Mindfulness Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Client-Centered work. She brings a focus on relationships and family systems while also helping individuals cope with trauma, loss, and chronic health or caregiving stress. Sessions often include straightforward strategies for problem solving and improving day-to-day coping. Amy’s background includes a degree in Psychology and Human Development from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master of Social Work from San Diego State University, and she has been licensed in California since 1994. Her 30 years of clinical experience span many settings and age groups, with more recent focus on adult and geriatric concerns. People come to Amy for help with relationship and communication problems, intimacy-related issues, parenting stress, compassion fatigue, addictions, and family-of-origin concerns. She also supports those facing abandonment wounds, avoidant or dependent personality patterns, chronic pain or illness, cancer-related stress, and blended family issues. Her approach is collaborative. She offers tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy when useful, and she adapts methods to each person’s needs. To begin, clients use the site's Start Therapy process and complete a short matching questionnaire before scheduling according to availability.

How therapeutic approaches shape online care

Amy uses Mindfulness Therapy to help people notice thoughts and feelings without getting swept away. That practice can reduce reactivity to stress and support better sleep and emotional balance. She also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) which focuses on clarifying values and taking small actions toward a meaningful life despite difficult feelings.

Client-Centered Therapy is another key influence and means sessions begin with listening and following what matters most to the person. That approach is helpful when the goal is to feel understood and to build on existing strengths rather than following a strict protocol. Together these methods can address anxiety, depression, grief, relationship strain, and coping with chronic illness or caregiving demands.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Amy will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts tools from CBT and Emotionally-Focused Therapy when useful, and checks in regularly about what is or isn’t helpful.

Session formats are not specified in the supplied biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Many people find remote sessions help maintain continuity of care when facing life transitions or caregiving responsibilities.