Meet Shelly Elia-Shaul—Therapist at Best Therapists

Shelly earned her masters degree in marriage and family therapy from the University of Massachusetts Global’s campus in Monterey, California. She completed her training at an equine therapy site while working with kids, teens, adults and families from various backgrounds. Working on an active ranch and integrating horses into therapy requires focus, calmness and assertiveness. The experience taught her the importance of mindfulness and somatic experiences in her clinical work with clients. Before becoming a therapist, Shelly earned a master’s degree in history. Her academic experience involved uncovering lost narratives of marginalized communities through ethnographic research. While doing that research, Shelly was also involved in community work with children and adults. These experiences inform her approach to clinical work. It’s why she makes it a priority to examine the nexus of socio-political factors and psychological influences in a person’s life.

Therapy can create an emotional container and also provide tangible interventions and skills, and I am committed to seeking the balance between the two for my clients. I utilize psychodynamic and attachment theories that help uncover patterns shaped in the early stages of life. I believe that clients can also benefit from behavioral skills that challenge maladaptive patterns. Specifically, I apply skills from Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), including emotional regulation, mindfulness, and relationship skills. My experience has taught me that progress is not linear. The same goes for therapy, which is why it can be a frustrating process. As a therapist, I am committed to in-depth work, empowering my clients to walk the rocky ground of progress. I see the therapeutic process as akin to art, moving back and forth from the details to the big picture while navigating the obstacles in between. It requires a stance of curiosity, emotional safety, and consistency, which I always strive to create for my clients. I work from a feminist and social justice framework, which means that I emphasize how systemic factors influence mental health. Along with that, I recognize the intersectionality of identities including gender, race, class, and sexual orientation. I believe that those layers create a unique experience that I recognize and explore with my clients.

Masters of Marriage and Family Therapy | University of Massachusetts Global, 2021