Shelby Houston (she/her)

My Approach to Helping

When someone comes to counseling it’s because they want something to change. I believe change happens by trying to be who we are rather than trying to be different. I practice contemporary relational Gestalt therapy, which is an existential, experiential approach that's centered around building self-awareness, self-acceptance, and whole-self embodiment. I also incorporate parts work, somatics, and neuroscience-informed approaches into my practice. Think about an optical illusion, where if you look at it long enough a different figure emerges from the one you originally saw. This radical perspective shift is available to you at any point if you are present enough to see it. In therapy, we'll work towards experiencing moments of this so you can recognize how to live your life richly and authentically.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I’m committed to honoring each client’s autonomy, intersecting identities, and the culturally-sensitive aspects of their experience, like gender, race, ethnicity, sexuality, ability, neurodivergence, and body size. I create space to examine power, and I promote client choice and solicit feedback throughout the therapy process. I value making contact with clients at areas of difference because I believe it’s only in this contrast that a person finds themself. My practice is celebratory and affirming of the human experience in all of it’s wonderful, diverse, and beautiful forms.