Therapist profile
Judith 'Judi' Shaffer, LICSW, LCSW
California
LICSW LCSW - Stress and relationships
Continue with JudithWhere Judith stands
- Credentials
- LICSW, LCSW
- License
- LCSW, California / 16364; LICSW, Massachusetts / 1015394
- NPI
- 1740765106
- Experience
- 29 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
About
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Solution-Focused work
About Judith
Judith 'Judi' Shaffer is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) and a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 29 years of experience. She is licensed in California and Massachusetts and works with adults facing stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, low self-esteem, depression, and life changes.
Judi helps people name what feels hard and figure out small, usable steps forward. Sessions are conversational and focused on what is happening now. She listens to daily struggles, from trouble saying no to feeling worn down by caregiving or family dynamics. Codependency is one of the concerns she addresses alongside communication problems and attachment issues.
Her work draws on Client-Centered ideas that center the person's perspective. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thinking and Psychodynamic concepts to look at patterns that repeat over time. Solution-Focused techniques are used when clients want concrete short-term strategies.
In practical terms Judi aims to help people build clearer boundaries, manage anxiety, and regain a sense of purpose during midlife or other transitions. She talks through concrete skills for coping and decision making rather than offering quick fixes. Her approach mixes reflection on past patterns with exercises clients can try between sessions.
Sessions are conducted in English. Judi's background includes long experience supporting people through caregiving stress, divorce and separation, body image concerns, and feelings of isolation. Prospective clients are asked to confirm current session formats before booking.
How sessions work
Therapeutic approaches and online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening to the person's experience and building understanding from their point of view. It helps when someone needs time to name feelings, regain confidence, or decide what matters most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior and offers practical exercises to reduce anxiety and shift unhelpful thinking.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit their goals and comfort level. That can mean using CBT tools for worry, Psychodynamic ideas to explore repeating patterns, or brief Solution-Focused steps for immediate problems.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online work can make scheduling easier and fit sessions into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when time is tight, or remove the need to travel to an office. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises and homework for remote sessions, and the therapist will discuss how to make sessions practical and useful for everyday life.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
29+ years
Listed in
California, Massachusetts
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship issues, low self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. Additional focuses include caregiving stress, codependency, and communication problems.
How would she describe her therapeutic style?
She uses a mix of Client-Centered listening, Cognitive Behavioral techniques, Psychodynamic reflection, and Solution-Focused steps. Sessions balance talking about patterns with practical exercises.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 29 years of professional work experience in social work settings. That background includes work with aging and geriatric issues and midlife transitions.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds MA LICSW and CA LCSW credentials and is licensed in California and Massachusetts. Her listed location is California.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients. Confirm language needs before booking.
What session formats does she offer?
The biography does not specify session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Ask about phone or video when you start the matching process.
How does payment work and what does it cost?
Cost varies by location. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time, and pricing is provided during signup.
How do I get started with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the platform.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.