Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin, LICSW, LCSW

Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin is a licensed clinical social worker with three decades of experience supporting people through relationship strain, trauma and abuse, career shifts, depression, addictions, grief, eating concerns, anger, self-esteem struggles, bipolar challenges, and compassion fatigue. He combines practical coaching with psychotherapy to help people change unhelpful thoughts and everyday habits. His style is direct, compassionate, and focused on real-life goals.

Before opening his private practice, he spent more than 30 years in executive roles at major health systems including Kaiser Permanente, Mount Sinai, and Northwestern Memorial. That background shaped his interest in organizational and individual well-being and gave him experience working across diverse settings. He holds a Master of Social Work from Loyola University and an MBA from North Park University.

In sessions he asks about what brought someone in, personal history, and existing strengths. He uses clear, evidence-informed methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, psychodynamic ideas, and solution-focused strategies. The work often centers on identifying thought patterns, building coping skills, and setting small, achievable goals.

Shelly emphasizes partnership in therapy. He listens, reflects, and offers tools tailored to each person. People can expect a calm, nonjudgmental space to talk through problems and practice new habits between sessions.

He lives in New Mexico with his wife and their Yorkie. Outside of work he enjoys hiking, travel, reading, and exploring art, and he draws on those life experiences to stay grounded and practical in his clinical work.

How his approaches translate to online work

Shelly commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy in his clinical work. CBT helps people spot and change unhelpful thoughts and behavior patterns, which can reduce anxiety and depression and improve daily functioning. Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on understanding emotional responses and strengthening how people connect and communicate in close relationships.

Finding the right approach is part of therapy. He works with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. Decisions about techniques and pace are made together so the plan matches what matters to the client.

Please confirm the specific online session options before booking since the biography does not list formats. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, save travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also makes it simpler to continue continuity of care during moves or relocations. Licensed professionals adapt exercises, homework, and emotional processing to work well over remote appointments while keeping the focus on changing thoughts and everyday habits.