Amy Shafer, LCSW

Amy Shafer is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with three decades of practice in California. She holds a Master of Social Work from San Diego State University and brings long experience helping people navigate depression, anxiety, stress, grief, and life transitions.

Her work often focuses on family systems, relationships, and the effects of trauma and loss. She has spent recent years concentrating on adult and geriatric concerns, including caregiver stress and the emotional impact of aging. Amy aims to be a steady presence for people who are solving practical problems and coping with change.

Sessions are collaborative and practical. She draws on therapies that help people notice what matters, shift unhelpful thought patterns, and strengthen relationships. Expect short-term strategies and longer-term work depending on each person’s situation.

Amy’s background includes clinical work across many settings and with multiple age groups. That variety has given her experience with chronic illness, caregiving, addiction, and blended family issues. She uses tools from several therapeutic approaches to match the needs of the person she’s working with.

People who seek her help often want to reduce anxiety, manage grief, or improve communication with loved ones. She supports practical problem solving, emotional processing, and building skills to handle stress and life transitions.

How therapeutic approaches guide online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people notice what matters most and take small actions toward those values even when feelings are difficult. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and changing behaviors that keep problems going, which can help with depression, anxiety, and sleep problems. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s own goals and pace, offering a listening, nonjudgmental stance to support emotional processing and decision making.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about needs, goals, and preferences and then try techniques that fit. This is a collaborative process and methods can shift as goals evolve.

Confirm current session options before booking to learn which formats are available. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when schedules require. It can also make it simpler to continue therapy during life transitions such as caregiving changes or medical treatment. Licensed professionals help tailor session length and structure to what works for each person.