Dr. Brian Shaffer, LCMHC, LCPC

Dr. Brian Shaffer is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor and Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with 20 years of experience. He uses a person-centered approach and blends practical tools from several therapies to help people facing stress, addiction, grief, depression, and relationship concerns. He pays attention to how past trauma and loss influence current struggles and includes clients' spiritual beliefs when they want that considered.

In sessions he works plainly and directly. He helps people name problems, try practical skills, and make a plan that fits their daily life. He draws on techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy and acceptance and commitment therapy to teach coping skills and build emotional flexibility.

Attachment-based ideas guide his understanding of relationships and intimacy-related concerns. He uses dialectical behavior therapy strategies when people need skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, or managing intense reactions. He also supports those dealing with aging and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and cancer-related concerns.

His background includes work in mental health, addiction, trauma, grief, loss, bereavement, and spiritual care. That range informs how he combines assessment and intervention to address co-occurring problems like addiction and mental health symptoms. He aims to help people move toward recovery and more stable everyday functioning.

People who work with him can expect straightforward talk, collaborative planning, and an openness to including spiritual values in treatment when desired. He practices in Pennsylvania and works with English-speaking clients, including international clients.

How his approaches shape online therapy

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, focuses on helping people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and then choose actions that match their values. It can help with anxiety, depression, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, teaches practical steps to change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and is often used for anxiety, depression, and coping skills. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns affect current connections and can be useful for intimacy, relationship, and caregiver stress concerns.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, history, and preferences. Then he will recommend and try methods that fit the client’s needs, adjusting the plan as things change in therapy.

The original profile does not specify which remote session formats are offered, so please confirm current options before booking. Many people find that online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten commute time, and allow follow-ups between appointments when needed. Some approaches lend themselves to focused skill practice or brief check-ins, which can make continuing progress easier even when life is busy.