Shelby Littlepage (LMHC)

Based in central Indiana, I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) in the state of Indiana and nationally registered art therapist (ATR) with nearly a decade of professional work experience. As an art therapist and mental health counselor, I have a variety of approaches to bring into the therapeutic relationship and deeply believe in the power of creativity and mindfulness to guide and heal. While I have experience working with individuals and groups of all ages in a variety of settings – including mental health agencies, school settings, and day treatment facilities—I have spent the most time working with teens and young adults providing in-person direct mental health care and behavioral counseling via individual, group, and family therapy sessions. Issues I can help with include but are not limited to the following: coping with stress and anxiety; managing depression; motivation; ADHD; self-esteem and confidence; and coping with big and small life changes. I am also trained to provide psychoeducation about mental health conditions and medication management. I cannot prescribe medication. My therapy style and approach are eclectic and draw influence from Jungian, Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy, Person-Centered/Humanistic, Mindfulness, Somatic, and Polyvagal Theory. It is important to me to meet you where you are and attune treatment to what will work best for us as we work together to meet your goals. Whether you are working towards increased insight and self-reflection or seeking symptom-relief and improved functioning, I am here to support you with making the most of that big step to connect and grow. I will do everything in my power to tailor our dialog and your treatment plan to meet your unique and specific needs, so your honesty and thoughtfulness make a big difference in the process. It is a courageous and vulnerable thing to trust a stranger with the tough stuff, but the more I know about you and what you are trying to accomplish, the better able I am to help you find your way there. I believe in treating the therapeutic relationship, and you, with respect, sensitivity, compassion, and warmth. I am privileged to meet with and support people during incredibly stressful and challenging times in their lives. I always endeavor to assume positive intent when interacting with clients and hope you will do the same for me. I am a real person who makes mistakes. An important aspect of the therapeutic relationship is engaging honestly and openly with one another in order to learn new ways of communicating and understanding. The problems you may encounter with me while we are working together often reflect the challenges you are experiencing in other areas of your life. The difference with our relationship is that it’s my job to help you work on those problems so I’m going to do everything I can to earnestly and kindly engage you in that work. I am also open to learning and always appreciate your feedback. Most of the time I find that we can work through whatever might come up. Sometimes, it may be necessary to refer you to a different therapist who can better help you with your particular challenges. I see therapy as a timely relationship where it is my job to hold space, instill hope, shine a light, and hold up a metaphorical mirror while clients explore their inner world, make meaning and sense of their story, and try on new ideas and ways of being. Therapy is a time (and space) limited activity. Ideally, we meet once a week or once every two weeks for approximately 45-55 minutes and we make the most of that time. We usually decide together based on your treatment plan goals how and when to end the helping relationship. It takes a lot of strength and will power to work towards a more fulfilling and happier life. If you’ve read this far, you have that strength so don’t stop now! Further, I find it helpful to be up front about expectations. I am a single parent to the coolest 5-year-old. Life gets kind of crazy sometimes, and I have to change things around last minute more often than I prefer in order to prioritize my small human. I am forthright with clients about this and we have gotten pretty creative in navigating both prioritizing therapy and life in general, but sometimes I simply cannot follow through on the original plan. That being said, I make every attempt to uphold our agreement. If you miss a session because of me, I do everything in my power to get you an alternate option with in that same week. Additionally, I am currently unable to accommodate evening and weekend sessions at this time. On occasion we will use that time as a backup if no other options are available for rescheduling purposes, but the latest session I offer starts at 5pm eastern. So if you need an evening or weekend time, you will want to keep looking and possibly adjust your profile so you can rematch with someone who is able to support your needs. I know there’s a good fit for you out there, don’t give up! I check my messages everyday and try to respond with in 12 hours on weekdays and 24 hours over the weekend. Please remember that BetterHelp is not appropriate if you are in crisis or in immediate need of support. In crisis situations, please call 911 or local emergency services. You can also call 1-800-273-TALK (8255) to talk to someone right away!