Jessica Shaffer

Practical therapy grounded in strong connection

CSW-PIP South Dakota

Experience: 12 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Grief
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Motivational Interviewing
Languages: English

About Jessica

Jessica Shaffer brings over a decade of clinical practice to her work, helping people manage stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, addictions, and related concerns. She uses practical, evidence-informed methods and emphasizes building a strong therapeutic connection as the foundation for progress.

Background and approach

Jessica is a licensed Certified Social Worker in personal Independent Practice (CSW-PIP) in South Dakota and has been practicing therapy since 2011 with earlier mental health experience beginning in 2003. Her background includes work with youth ages 5-18 and some adults, often addressing traumatic experiences, depression, PTSD, anxiety, and relationship challenges.

She has experience in crisis intervention and has provided care in settings that included locked correctional facilities, where she focused on acute suicide risk and treatment of severe and persistent mental illness.

Jessica draws on approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), solution-focused methods, trauma-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing, tailoring interventions to what seems most helpful for each person. Outside of clinical work she enjoys travel, family time, and the outdoors, and she welcomes the opportunity to work with clients through online counseling while maintaining a collaborative, respectful therapeutic style.

Online approaches that match practical goals

Jessica commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and coping with stress. She also integrates Trauma-Focused Therapy to address the effects of traumatic experiences through targeted processing and skill-building, aiming to reduce trauma-related symptoms and improve daily functioning. Motivational Interviewing is used when ambivalence or readiness for change is a central issue, helping clients clarify goals and strengthen motivation.

Finding the right approach is part of the collaborative process. The therapist works together with each person to explore which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and adjusts techniques over time based on progress and feedback.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access consistent care from licensed professionals without travel, and they allow the therapist to deliver CBT, trauma-focused work, and motivational strategies in ways that fit a client's daily life and goals.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?

Jessica supports people with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, addictions, LGBT concerns, relationship and family issues, sleep difficulties, parenting challenges, anger, self esteem, career concerns, coping with life changes, and related areas including communication problems, first responder issues, and self-harm.

What is the therapist's general approach and style?

The approach emphasizes a strong therapeutic relationship and practical, evidence-informed techniques. Jessica uses collaborative methods and adapts interventions to each person's needs, often combining cognitive and solution-focused strategies with trauma-informed care.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has worked in the mental health field since 2003 and has been practicing therapy since 2011, totaling 12 years of active clinical practice as a therapist.

What credentials and location are listed for the therapist?

Jessica is licensed in South Dakota as a Certified Social Worker in personal Independent Practice (CSW-PIP) with the credential SD CSW-PIP 3415.

Which languages are available and are international clients accepted?

Sessions are offered in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats does she offer for online work?

Available session formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are costs and subscriptions handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How does someone begin working with this therapist?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Grief Depression Compassion fatigue

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTRelationship issuesFamily conflictsSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Communication problemsFirst responder issuesSelf-harm

Therapeutic approaches

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

12+ years

Licensed

South Dakota

Languages

English