Shenelle Micole Foster

Welcome! My name is Shenelle Micole Foster and I am a licensed clinical social worker, and certified yoga and meditation teacher.

I earned my MSW in 2007 from Fordham Graduate School of Social Service, have held masters-level licensure in New York State, and hold current clinical licensure in Hawaii, California, and Washington D.C. I possess over 15 years of experience working in residential, hospital inpatient and outpatient clinic settings, and I work with a wide range of people seeking treatment (adolescent to older adult).

I generally treat clients experiencing anxiety, depression, occupational stress, substance use disorder, suicidality, trauma and chronic PTSD, and relationship and marital concerns including intimate partner violence. I can also work with clients diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, and schizoaffective disorder when clients are also connected to psychiatric care.

I believe in the inherent wisdom that exists within each individual, and that everyone has the capacity to heal and live well. We will identify longstanding problems and work together to resolve them, and I will support you every step of the way.

I use an interpersonal and solution-focused approach to therapy, and integrate trauma-informed cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, "mindfulness" and somatic experiencing techniques. My approach is always culturally competent, spiritually/energetically positive, and client-centered.

Most clients would describe our communication in sessions as open, candid, and insightful. I will always allow you the space to process and gain clarity, and I will also gently challenge you when you find yourself getting "stuck."

To reach your goals in treatment, I always suggest working with 1-2 stressors that are asking the MOST for your attention. We'll identify what your ideal outcomes are, and what path we can take to get there. Treatment planning will always involve you learning effective coping strategies to deal with stress or mood changes, so you can start to gain confidence as you take steps toward solutions. Sometimes clients find that in resolving one major issue, other concerns can be resolved as well.

During our first session we will discuss your reasons for coming to therapy, and what you are seeking to resolve or experience differently in your life. I will ask a lot of questions to gather your history and current experience, so I have a full picture of your situation and be better able to assess and determine how I might help you. You will also have the opportunity to ask me questions, and we'll work together to determine how long we should work together to address your concerns.