Jessica Shaffer, CSW-PIP

Jessica Shaffer brings a thoughtful, relationship-centered approach to therapy, combining long experience in mental health work with specialized clinical training. She has worked in the field since 2003 and has been practicing as a therapist since 2011, offering individual and group services primarily to youth ages 5 to 18 and occasionally to adults. Her background includes crisis-focused work in a locked correctional facility in Colorado, where she provided intensive intervention for clients who were acutely suicidal and treated severe and persistent mental illness.

Jessica uses a range of evidence-informed methods to tailor treatment to each person, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, motivational interviewing, solution-focused techniques, and trauma-focused therapies. She also incorporates crisis intervention and mindfulness strategies when appropriate. Her areas of focus include stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, addictions, LGBT issues, relationship and family concerns, sleep problems, parenting, anger, self-esteem, career questions, and coping with life changes. She additionally works with communication problems, first responder issues, and self-harm concerns.

Jessica earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Black Hills State University in 2003 and a Master of Social Work from Newman University in 2010. She is licensed in South Dakota as a CSW-PIP, which stands for Certified Social Worker in Private Independent Practice. Outside of her clinical work she enjoys traveling, spending time with family, and being outdoors, and she expresses enthusiasm about providing counseling services in online formats.