Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin

Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin is a licensed clinical social worker with more than 30 years of experience in health systems and leadership roles. He brings a steady, practical approach to help people navigate relationship strain, career shifts, depression, trauma, addiction, grief, and issues with self-esteem. Sessions focus on clear goals, steady support, and skills you can use between meetings.

He spent decades in executive roles at major hospitals and health systems, then moved into private practice. His background includes an MSW from Loyola University and an MBA from North Park University, and he holds LICSW and LCSW credentials. Life experiences from growing up in Chicago and caring for family shaped his interest in empathy, resilience, and practical problem solving.

Shelly uses a mix of approaches to fit each person’s needs. He leans on cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thinking, psychodynamic ideas to understand patterns from the past, and solution-focused methods to set small, reachable goals. Motivational Interviewing is part of his work when people need help shifting habits.

In early sessions he listens to what brought someone in, reviews background and strengths, and sets realistic goals together. He describes therapy as a partnership where the client’s input guides the plan. The aim is clearer thinking, greater confidence, and better day-to-day coping.

Outside of work he enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and art. He lives in New Mexico with his wife and their Yorkie, Kugel, and favors a hopeful, persistent outlook when helping people move forward.

How these approaches translate to online work

CBT focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Online sessions can use this approach to practice skills, set concrete homework, and track progress between meetings. EFT emphasizes emotions and relationships, helping people name feelings and improve important connections through focused conversations and exercises.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will talk with clients about their goals, history, and preferences and then decide together which methods to prioritize. That collaborative planning helps ensure sessions are tailored and practical.

Confirm the available session formats before booking because specific formats are not listed in the profile. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life - for example by removing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins during a workday, or offering options when head-down focus is needed. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT and EFT exercises to work over distance so progress continues between meetings.