About Jessica
Jessica Shaffer helps people who are facing stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, addictions, LGBT issues, relationship or family concerns, sleep trouble, parenting strain, anger, low self esteem, career uncertainty, and coping with life changes. She also focuses on communication problems, first responder issues, and self-harm. Jessica's approach aims to make getting help feel manageable and practical.
She emphasizes a strong working relationship as the main tool in therapy.
How Jessica works
Sessions are built around listening first and then trying approaches that fit each person's needs. Jessica draws on straightforward techniques to help people make small changes that add up. Jessica brings 12 years of therapy experience and a longer history in mental health work.
She earned a Master of Social Work in 2010 and holds the credential CSW-PIP, which stands for Certified Social Worker in personal Independent Practice. She practices in South Dakota. Her clinical style combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with solution-focused work and motivational interviewing when useful.
She also uses trauma-focused methods when trauma is part of the story. Treatment plans are chosen together and adjusted as progress is made. Jessica has worked in a range of settings, including crisis work and treatment for severe mental health concerns.
That background informs how she responds to urgent problems and complex symptoms. Outside of work she enjoys travel, family time, and being outdoors. People who prefer a clear, pragmatic approach will find sessions that focus on concrete steps, coping skills, and communication practice.
The aim is to reduce immediate distress and build skills for longer-term change.
Jessica lists 4 ways of working on the entry:
What Jessica works with
The areas below are the ones Jessica selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- First responder issues
- LGBT
- Parenting issues
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Sleeping disorders
Training and background
| Register | CSW-PIP |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 12 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | South Dakota |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Online approaches for coping and healing
Jessica commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Focused Therapy in online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify unhelpful thought patterns and try small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, depression, or sleep problems. Trauma-Focused Therapy focuses on understanding and processing traumatic experiences and on building skills to manage triggers and intense emotions.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will help figure out which methods fit the person's goals and preferences, and will adjust the plan as progress is made. This is a collaborative process where techniques are tested and changed based on what helps most.
Online therapy offers practical benefits like flexibility and fewer barriers to attending. Video calls let people use face-to-face interaction without travel. Phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited or a quick check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to fit brief updates or coping support into a busy day. These formats allow therapy to fit around work, school, or caregiving responsibilities while keeping focus on skills, problem solving, and emotional support.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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