PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

DS Portrait of Darci Shinn
Online therapist

Darci Shinn

Practical, science-informed support for intimate and life changes

Book with Darci
Credentials
LCSW
Experience
8 years
Licensed in
New Jersey
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Darci

Darci Shinn is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who focuses on practical support for stress, anxiety, relationships, intimacy-related concerns, self-esteem, addictions, grief, eating issues, parenting, career questions, mood disorders, and coping with life changes. She practices in New Jersey and brings eight years of clinical experience to sessions. Darci aims to help people notice small shifts that add up to real change.

Her style is direct and collaborative, with attention to everyday routines and choices.

Background and approach

Darci trained with dual master's degrees in social work and human sexuality, which shaped her interest in sex, intimacy, and identity concerns. Before therapy training she studied biology and worked in assisted reproductive technology and pharmaceuticals, experiences that inform her practical, science-minded perspective. That background also guides her interest in how body, brain, and routine interact.

In session she blends client-centered listening with structured tools. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to look at thoughts and behaviors and helps clients try new responses in daily life. Mindfulness and motivational approaches are woven in when clients want to build awareness or make changes step by step.

Sessions often include working on self-talk, experimenting with small behavioral shifts, and adjusting daily routines like movement and sleep. Darci emphasizes that steady, modest adjustments matter more than perfection. She supports clients as they test ideas, learn from setbacks, and build choices that fit their lives.

Her work covers a wide range of intimate and identity-related topics, including LGBT and gender dysphoria concerns, sexual health and alternative sexual cultures, body image, fertility and pregnancy issues, and relationship challenges such as infidelity or non-monogamy. Darci aims to help people feel more capable of making decisions that match their values and goals.

Practical approaches for online therapy and daily life

Darci commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy in her online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on recognizing unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors so daily routines and reactions can shift. This approach is useful for anxiety, depression, self-talk, and habit change. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening and collaboration, giving people space to set goals and find solutions that feel right to them.

Finding the right approach is part of the process and will be decided together. She will work with the client to match methods to their goals and preferences, checking in and adjusting strategies as needed. The work is collaborative and paced to each person’s comfort level.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which allow flexibility for busy schedules and different comfort levels. These formats make it possible to practice strategies between sessions, check in more frequently when helpful, and fit therapy into everyday life without long commutes. Many people find the variety of formats helps maintain momentum as they try small changes over time.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Existential Therapy

Takes the larger questions seriously: meaning, choice, mortality, responsibility. Suited to periods when the difficulty is less a symptom than a sense that something has to change.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Darci address?
She works with a broad range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, relationship and intimacy concerns, LGBT and gender dysphoria topics, addictions and process addictions, eating and body image issues, parenting, grief, career questions, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style is collaborative and practical. She combines client-centered listening with structured tools and focuses on small, doable changes in daily life.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has eight years of experience and draws on training in social work and human sexuality as well as earlier science-focused roles.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - NJ LCSW 44SC05851900 - and practices in New Jersey.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.
How are fees and starting therapy handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability and use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
8 years
Licensed
New Jersey
Languages
English

Next step

Talk to Darci

  • Takes a few minutes
  • Nothing to set up just to look
  • Stop at any point
Book with Darci