Judith 'Judi' Shaffer

Judith 'Judi' Shaffer welcomes people who are facing big life changes, relationship strain, or persistent stress and low mood. She writes plainly and listens, helping clients name what feels hardest and decide on practical next steps. Judi uses a calm, empathic approach and encourages honest conversation without judgment.

With 29 years of experience, Judi blends straightforward talking therapies to match each person's needs. She emphasizes clear goals and useful tools for managing anxiety, depression, confidence, and motivation. Sessions focus on solving immediate problems while noticing patterns that repeat over time.

Clients can expect a mix of short-term skill building and deeper reflection. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques are used to identify unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes. Psychodynamic ideas are brought in to understand long-standing relationship patterns when helpful.

Judi also draws on Client-Centered and Solution-Focused methods to keep the work practical and collaborative. That means she mirrors what clients bring, helps them set realistic goals, and tracks progress together. Topics she frequently addresses include caregiving stress, family of origin issues, body image, and divorce and separation concerns.

She is licensed in California and Massachusetts as an LICSW and LCSW. Sessions are conducted in English. To begin, clients follow the site process to match and schedule time based on availability.

How Judi’s approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening, empathy, and following the client's lead. In online sessions this means time is spent reflecting what matters most and helping people feel understood while they decide next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets specific thoughts and behaviors with clear exercises and small experiments between sessions to reduce anxiety and lift mood.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Judi treats the choice of methods as collaborative and adjusts plans based on a person's goals, progress, and preferences. She will discuss options and try approaches that fit the issue and the client’s pace.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so please confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into busy days, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports keeping momentum between sessions through homework and brief skill practice that translate into daily life.