I love Shelly!
Shelly Foster, LICSW
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Shelly is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 5.0 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Shelly. View 23 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in Minnesota
Recent reviews
Shelly is very reliable and a great therapist.
More about Shelly
- 11 years' experience
- Female
- LICSW
After being successful for 17 years in corporate America, I made the drastic decision to change careers and follow my passion. This lead to my attending graduate school 19 years ago and obtaining my Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work. I am licensed in the state of Minnesota as a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker and have worked in the field of mental health for the past 15+ years.
I have had the privilege of providing therapy to individuals, couples, and families – adolescents and adults struggling with mood disorders, anxiety, trauma, family conflict, attachment, relationship issues, and life transitions. In addition, I have experience in crisis risk assessment, suicide ideation, training coping skills, and providing psycho-education.
I have experience providing therapeutic services to individuals from various socio-economic backgrounds in both urban and rural settings. This has included providing mental health services to homeless young adults in a large urban setting, doing in-home family counseling in a rural community, providing family and individual therapy in a suburban mental health clinic, and assessing suicide risk in a hospital emergency department. What I have found is at the heart of all individuals regardless of race, ethnicity, religion, social status, gender identity, or sexual orientation is the desire to live their best lives.
I believe we are all experts on ourselves. We may not fully understand why we feel the way we do, what our next steps should be, or how to deal with a particular situation. I believe my role as a therapist is to come along side whoever I am working with to help them in discovering the answers to these questions and assisting them in reaching their goals. I do this by listening, really listening, so I can truly understand. I think the relationship between the therapist and individual is of primary importance. Therapy should be a partnership between the client and therapist. There has to be trust in the relationship. My goal is to provide a safe and non-judgmental place where each person feels heard, understood, supported, and helped.
I believe each person is multi-dimensional with his or her own reasons for seeking out help. I work towards customizing my therapy for the individual and their particular needs. I am trained in and pull from several different therapeutic models; Cognitive Behavior, Dialectical Behavior, Solution Focused, Psychodynamic, Trauma Focused, and Mindfulness among other modalities. Again, I believe the relationship between therapist and individual is crucial to the success of any therapeutic model.
In addition to my training and education in the mental health field I bring life experience and humor to the work I do with individuals. I believe humor is one of our greatest resources. I personally have experienced challenges and transitions in my own life. My philosophy is that life is like floating down a river on a raft. Sometimes the river is calm and the sun is shining down on us while we just bask in the rays. What we don’t know is what is around the next bend in the river. We may be facing rocks, rapids, and turbulence. The goal is to just stay on the raft no matter what is coming next.
Thank you for taking the time to read my profile. If I sound like the type of counselor/therapist you are looking for, I would love to work with you. If not, it is my hope that you find the best fit to address your needs.
Specialties
Stress
Anxiety
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse
Depression
Coping with life changes
LGBT
Family conflicts
Grief
Intimacy-related issues
Parenting issues
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Bipolar disorder
Compassion fatigue
Attachment issues
Caregiver issues and stress
Codependency
Communication problems
Control issues
Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
Divorce and separation
Domestic violence
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Guilt and shame
Isolation / loneliness
Life purpose
Midlife crisis
Mood disorders
Multicultural concerns
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Post-traumatic stress
Prejudice and discrimination
Self-harm
Self-love
Sexual assault and abuse
Social anxiety and phobia
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Treatment Approaches
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Licenses
Shelly Foster's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1881934164.
- LICSW · Minnesota · 19752 · Expires August 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling, sometimes called teletherapy, refers to talk therapy delivered remotely through digital platforms, such as video calls, phone calls, or chat. It can be a great option for people who face barriers to traditional face-to-face therapy, such as those living in remote areas, individuals with mobility issues, or people with busy schedules that make it difficult to attend in-person sessions.
Teletherapy also offers greater convenience and flexibility, allowing clients to access care from the comfort of their homes. Research shows that the treatment outcomes with online counseling are often just as effective as with traditional therapy, providing a viable alternative for individuals seeking mental health support.
Reviews for Shelly Foster
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
I love Shelly!
Shelly is very reliable and a great therapist.
Good listener, smart, accepting, and good at recommending! The books we’ve worked through are very enlightening.
Shelly Foster is a wonderful therapist. She listens, offers wisdom and tangible advice and I would recommend her services to anyone.
I have never had such a connection with a therapist in my 32 years of life. I couldn’t afford to keep seeing her for a few months but she kept reaching out to let me know how she was still thinking of me. I have never felt so appreciated or respected by another therapist in my life.
I have learned so much about myself through my therapy with Shelly
❤️
I am thoroughly enjoying my time talking to Shelly. I feel she has a complete understanding of my situation and offers very helpful suggestions to think about.
Shelly is very insightful and easy to talk to. She gives excellent advice and creates an environment for me to learn healthier ways to handle things I’ve struggled with. Absolutely recommend Shelly to anyone looking to better themselves.
Shelly is an exceptional mental health provider. She’s knowledgeable, compassionate, and gets to the heart of the matter quickly.
Shelly has helped me understand so much about my feelings in a comprehensive way
Shelly has been a light in my darkest days. She truly cares about me and wants the best for me. She comes through for me and makes me a priority in her busy schedule. I’m so grateful for this platform!
Shelly is a lovely person who is very compassionate and understanding. She can see what’s happening and connect the dots with you in a way that makes things more objective and less overwhelming. I recommend her highly!
Shelly has been a wonderful source of support for me in a time that I needed it the most.
Shelley has been an awesome counselor for me thru a really hard time in my life. I frankly don't know what i would have done without her expert guidance. She's willing to listen endlessly and offer her thoughts . Also, to offer correction when I seem to be going down the wrong path! I really appreciate that in a professional.
I would have not have such an elaborate toolbox of coping skills if it hadn't been for a year of weekly sessions with Shelly. She helped me curate a strong sense of self!
Shelly is amazing. She’s compassionate and skilled. I am happy to be connected with her and know that she will be instrumental in my healing.
I've been working with Shelly for three weeks so far and I already feel so much better. She truly listens and makes me feel like my feelings are valid. This is my first time ever doing therapy and couldn't have asked for a better experience!
Shelly was truly amazing! She helped me work through several trust and communication issues that were impacting my ability to establish a keep healthy relationships. I could not recommend her enough!!
Shelly has been a light in my life. She always listens with compassion and her feedback is completely on point. Her nonjudgmental personality helps me feel comfortable enough to really open up to her. I have never felt as strong of a connection with a therapist until now. Highly recommend her and BetterHelp.
Ive been working with Shelley Foster for a couple months now. I would say that this service has done me an immeasurable amount of good, but I feel that would be a disservice. Because it is VERY quantifiable how much help this has provided me. Shelley does a great job of helping me make mental discoveries, and experience epiphanies, on my own. 5 star review.
This is tremendously helpful!
Shelly has been huge help. I can talk to her without being judged.
Frequently asked questions
Does Shelly Foster offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Shelly Foster works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Shelly Foster speak?
Shelly Foster speaks English.
How many years of experience does Shelly Foster have?
Shelly Foster has 11 years of experience.
Where is Shelly Foster licensed to practice?
Shelly Foster is licensed to practice in Minnesota.
Does Shelly Foster accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Shelly Foster does not accept clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Shelly Foster offer?
Shelly Foster offers clients Attachment-Based Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Shelly Foster?
Shelly Foster can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Shelly Foster?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.