Shelly Sanders, LCSW
Compassionate LCSW supporting healing and growth
- Trauma informed care
- Teletherapy options
- Family and parenting
About Shelly Sanders
Shelly Sanders is a licensed clinical social worker in Idaho who brings a collaborative and compassionate approach to therapy. With eight years of direct experience as a therapist and roughly thirteen years working in mental health settings, she has supported children, adolescents, and adults through a wide range of concerns. Her work has included addressing depression, anxiety, communication challenges, parenting difficulties, anger management, oppositional defiant disorder, ADHD, and autism spectrum considerations in children.
Shelly practices in a warm, interactive, and client-centered way, tailoring each session to the individual needs of the person she is working with. She emphasizes respect, empathy, and practical understanding while helping clients identify goals and develop realistic plans. Her toolbox includes play therapy for younger clients, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for skills-building, choice theory and solution-focused strategies for goal-oriented change, and bilateral stimulation or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) when clinically appropriate.
She works with clients to create attainable, targeted, and time-sensitive treatment plans that reflect each person’s priorities. As an LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Shelly aims to provide steady support and encouragement through challenging transitions and difficult emotions. She welcomes individuals who are ready to begin therapy and is available to assist them in taking that first step.
Shelly practices in a warm, interactive, and client-centered way, tailoring each session to the individual needs of the person she is working with. She emphasizes respect, empathy, and practical understanding while helping clients identify goals and develop realistic plans. Her toolbox includes play therapy for younger clients, dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for skills-building, choice theory and solution-focused strategies for goal-oriented change, and bilateral stimulation or eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) when clinically appropriate.
She works with clients to create attainable, targeted, and time-sensitive treatment plans that reflect each person’s priorities. As an LCSW, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Shelly aims to provide steady support and encouragement through challenging transitions and difficult emotions. She welcomes individuals who are ready to begin therapy and is available to assist them in taking that first step.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
AddictionsRelationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changesCompassion fatigue
Additional Focus Areas
Aging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMood disordersObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
Attachment-Based Therapy Client-Centered Therapy Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) Jungian Therapy Mindfulness Therapy Motivational Interviewing Narrative Therapy Solution-Focused Therapy Trauma-Focused Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Shelly Sanders have?
Shelly Sanders has 9 years of experience.
Is Shelly Sanders a licensed therapist?
Yes. She holds the credential LCSW, which denotes a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. License details are listed as ID LCSW LCSW - 39692.
In which languages does Shelly Sanders provide therapy?
Shelly Sanders provides therapy in English.
Where is Shelly Sanders located?
Shelly Sanders is located in Idaho.
How can I work with Shelly Sanders as my therapist?
You can work with Shelly Sanders through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Shelly Sanders work with international clients?
Shelly Sanders does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Shelly Sanders cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started with therapy is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care
Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early and current relationship patterns shape emotional responses and interpersonal expectations. It helps clients explore attachment styles and build more secure, connected ways of relating to partners, family members, and themselves.
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathy, respect, and the client’s own capacity for growth. In this approach the therapist provides a supportive, nonjudgmental environment that encourages self-exploration and personal insight, useful for issues like low self-esteem, life transitions, and relational difficulties.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) uses bilateral stimulation alongside guided recall to help people process distressing memories. When appropriate, it can be a focused option for trauma-related symptoms and emotional reactions tied to past events.
Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Shelly works collaboratively with clients to determine what fits best given their goals, preferences, and needs. She may combine strategies so that therapy remains practical and responsive.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit sessions into busy schedules, manage parenting or work obligations, and maintain continuity during life changes. Licensed professionals and therapists can adapt these remote formats to provide consistent, skills-based support and ongoing collaboration.