Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin, LICSW, LCSW

Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin helps people facing relationship strain, trauma and abuse, career challenges, depression, and coping with major life changes. He also supports those managing addictions, grief, eating concerns, anger, self-esteem struggles, bipolar-related issues, compassion fatigue, and caregiving stress. Shelly brings a calm, steady presence to early sessions and focuses on clear, practical goals.

He spent more than 30 years in executive roles at major hospitals and health systems, then moved into private practice in New Mexico. That background shaped his interest in helping people navigate illness, chronic pain, cancer-related stress, and aging concerns. He grew up in Chicago and draws on life experience, family stories, and decades of work when listening to clients.

Sessions begin with an open conversation about what led someone to seek help and what they hope to change. He asks about history, strengths, and current struggles to build a straightforward plan. Treatment blends practical techniques with attention to emotions and personal meaning.

Shelly holds a Master of Social Work from Loyola University and maintains licenses as LICSW and LCSW. He pairs clinical approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Emotionally-Focused Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, psychodynamic ideas, and solution-focused work to fit each person’s needs.

Outside of counseling he enjoys hiking, travel, reading, and art. He lives in New Mexico with his wife and their small dog, and values positivity, confidence, and persistence in the work he does with clients.

How these approaches translate to online work

Shelly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try practical behavior changes. CBT is often used for depression, anxiety, and coping with life changes. Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on emotions and connection, helping people understand and shift how they relate to others and to themselves. Motivational Interviewing supports people who are weighing change, such as for addiction recovery or health behavior shifts, by exploring motivation and next steps.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. He will talk with each person about goals, past experiences, and what feels most useful. Together they decide whether to emphasize CBT skills, emotion-focused exploration, or motivational techniques, and they adjust the plan as progress is made.

Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current session options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, shorten routine check-ins, or avoid travel time. It can also allow people to access care from within their daily routines while keeping therapy focused on clear goals and practical steps.