- Family of origin issues
- Grief and life changes
- ACT and CBT approaches
About Amy
Amy Shafer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 30 years of experience. She lists stress, anxiety, grief, depression, relationship and family concerns, and life transitions among the issues she works with. Amy also notes work related to addiction, sleep problems, parenting strain, and compassion fatigue.
She earned degrees in Psychology and Human Development from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and a Master of Social Work from San Diego State University, with an emphasis on clinical practice. Amy has been a California LCSW since 1994 and has worked across many settings over three decades. This background includes work with adults and older adults in recent years.
Her practice focuses on family systems and family of origin issues, and on how patterns from upbringing affect present relationships and choices. She helps people talk through conflicts, improve communication, and manage emotions that come from earlier family roles and expectations. Amy also addresses grief and adjusting to life stage changes.
Therapeutic work often uses practical tools from approaches such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside client-centered and mindfulness elements. Sessions include problem-solving, developing coping strategies, and learning ways to respond differently to longstanding patterns.
Amy emphasizes collaborative, skills-based work that draws on decades of experience. She supports adults who want to understand and change long-standing patterns that continue to affect their relationships and daily life.
How Amy’s approaches translate to online sessions
Amy uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice difficult thoughts and choose actions that match their values. ACT emphasizes learning practical ways to live with uncomfortable feelings while moving toward meaningful goals. She also draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and practice new behaviors that reduce anxiety and improve mood. CBT offers concrete exercises and homework that many clients find useful between sessions.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist and client will discuss goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful, and then adapt techniques as work progresses. Amy integrates elements from different methods rather than using only one approach, and she involves the client in deciding what fits best.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm the current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce commuting time. Licensed professionals can use different tools and rhythms in virtual sessions to practice skills, review exercises, and address family of origin patterns in ways that fit everyday schedules.
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 concerns does she address?
Amy works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and family concerns, as well as issues like addiction, sleep problems, and parenting strain.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She uses practical, skills-focused work drawing on ACT, CBT, emotionally-focused, client-centered, and mindfulness approaches to help people change patterns and manage emotions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 30 years of experience in many settings and most recently has focused on adult and geriatric care and family systems work.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) licensed in California and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are session formats arranged?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed in the biography.
How are fees and getting started handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
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