PuttingFamilyFirst

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JS Portrait of Jessica Shaffer
Online therapist

Jessica Shaffer

Compassionate support for parents and caregivers

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Credentials
CSW-PIP
Experience
12 years
Licensed in
South Dakota
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Jessica

Jessica Shaffer is a licensed social worker who focuses on parenting and family-related concerns. She helps parents and caregivers manage stress, anxiety, sleep problems, anger, and parenting challenges. She also supports people facing grief, depression, trauma, and issues like self-esteem and coping with life changes.

Jessica holds a CSW-PIP credential, which means Certified Social Worker in personal Independent Practice, and she brings 12 years of clinical experience to her work.

Background and approach

Her style is direct and practical. She aims to build a strong working relationship first, then focuses on small, usable steps that fit daily life. Sessions often include straightforward strategies and gentle skill-building rather than long lectures.

The goal is to make changes that feel doable at home. In therapy she uses methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy to set clear, short-term goals. Motivational Interviewing is used when people need help finding reasons to change.

Trauma-Focused Therapy is available for those with a history of abuse or trauma. Jessica trained with a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Black Hills State University and a Master of Social Work from Newman University. Her credential is SD CSW-PIP 3415, licensed in South Dakota.

She has experience in settings from outpatient care to working with people in crisis and with severe mental health needs. Sessions are offered in English and delivered online by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. To begin, someone completes a short matching questionnaire and schedules a session based on therapist availability.

Therapeutic approaches for online family and parenting support

Jessica uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT breaks problems into small, manageable parts and gives clear tools to reduce anxiety, improve sleep, or change parenting reactions.

She also applies Solution-Focused Therapy to set practical goals and build on what already works. This method emphasizes immediate steps and small successes, which can be helpful when parents need fast, usable strategies.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals and preferences and then choose or blend methods that fit. That way the plan evolves based on what helps most in real life.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy families. Video calls let people meet face to face from home, while phone, live chat, or text messaging provide options for shorter check-ins or times when video is not possible. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into school schedules, work shifts, or caregiving duties and help maintain continuity when life gets busy.

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.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Solution-Focused Therapy

Rather than examining the problem at length, this looks at what is already working and builds on it. Sessions tend to be practical and forward-looking, with small achievable steps, which translates readily to shorter online conversations.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Jessica address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, addictions, LGBT issues, relationship and family problems, sleeping and parenting difficulties, anger, self esteem, career questions, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach is practical and relationship-driven. She focuses on building trust, setting clear short-term goals, and using simple skills clients can practice between sessions.
What experience does she bring?
She has 12 years of clinical experience and previously worked in settings that included crisis care and treatment for severe mental illness.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds the credential CSW-PIP, listed as SD CSW-PIP 3415, and practices in South Dakota.
What languages are supported and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
Which session formats are available?
Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to get started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
12 years
Licensed
South Dakota
Languages
English

Next step

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