Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin, LICSW, LCSW

Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin is a licensed clinical social worker with three decades of experience supporting people through major life shifts. He helps with midlife questions, relationships, career strain, grief, addiction, depression, and coping with illness. Shelly focuses on clear goals and steady progress so people feel more confident in day-to-day life.

He spent over 30 years in executive roles at major hospitals and health systems, including Kaiser Permanente, Mount Sinai, and Northwestern Memorial. That background informs a pragmatic style that values both practical steps and emotional understanding. He holds a Master of Social Work from Loyola University and an MBA from North Park University, and he completed executive management coursework at the University of Southern California.

Shelly draws on several evidence-based methods, including cognitive behavioral work, psychodynamic perspectives, and solution-focused strategies. He also uses emotionally-focused ideas and motivational interviewing to help people clarify values and stay motivated. In sessions he listens closely, asks about strengths and history, and helps set realistic, measurable goals.

Clients can expect a respectful, nonjudgmental space where feelings and facts both matter. He aims to build confidence, reduce overwhelm, and create workable plans for change. Outside of practice, Shelly enjoys travel, hiking, reading, and time with his wife and their Yorkie in New Mexico.

To begin, he asks that prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a session. He will review goals, discuss what matters most to the client, and co-create a plan to move forward.

Approaches that translate well to online work

CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing them with small, practical experiments. It helps with depression, anxiety, and behavior change by breaking big problems into doable steps. Emotionally-Focused Therapy centers on understanding emotions and patterns in close relationships to build stronger connections and reduce repeated conflicts. Motivational Interviewing uses guided conversation to uncover personal reasons for change and strengthen commitment to goals like recovery or healthier habits.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work together with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. That collaborative process includes trying techniques, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan over time.

Confirm the session formats before booking since the biography does not list specific options. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when time is limited, and reduce travel time to appointments. Many people find digital sessions help maintain momentum between sessions and allow therapy to continue when life is otherwise hectic.