Wylie Shipman

When I meet a new client for the first time, they’re usually a bit nervous, and so am I. However, I also feel a profound sense of admiration. Here’s a person who is struggling, who may be going through one of the hardest challenges of their life, and yet they are willing to make an appointment to sit in a room with a stranger and share their pain. This willingness is all the evidence I need that the person in front of me is ready for change. Reaching out is often the hardest part, and yet it’s profound. If you’re reading these words, you’ve already decided to move in a new direction. Joining you on that journey is not only my job, it’s also my passion, and it’s an amazing, humbling privilege. Thank you!

I practice Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, also known as ACT. As an ACT therapist I’m less interested in what’s wrong with you, and much more interested in what makes your life rich, full, and meaningful. Together we’ll explore your values and the ways in which you are moving toward or moving away from what really matters to you. ACT therapy teaches concrete skills for navigating life’s inevitable pain so that you can live a rich, full, meaningful life, even when pain shows up.

Life can feel heavy, but therapy doesn’t have to! I strive to bring warmth, humor, and acceptance into the room as we work together as a team to help you move toward a better life. You’re not a puzzle to be figured out, you’re a human being with hopes, dreams, and goals. And you suffer because you’re human, not because you are damaged, disordered, or sick. ACT therapy is not about fixing you, it’s about helping you learn more workable ways to get what you want from your life. I’ll never challenge your values, but I may gently challenge the automatic thoughts and behaviors that seem to be blocking your way. By learning and practicing ACT skills, you’ll be able to struggle less with difficult thoughts and emotions, and direct that energy toward actions that make your life richer and more meaningful.