Jessica Shaffer, CSW-PIP
Compassionate, practical support for parents and individuals
Book with Jessica- Years in practice
- 12
- Credentials
- CSW-PIP
- Licensed in
- South Dakota
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
- Focus
- Grief
About Jessica
Jessica Shaffer, CSW-PIP, helps people who are struggling with stress, anxiety, grief, depression, parenting challenges, sleep problems, and relationship difficulties. She commonly supports concerns such as trauma and abuse, compassion fatigue, addictions, anger, self-esteem, career stress, and coping with life changes. Jessica also addresses communication problems, first responder issues, and self-harm when relevant.
She has worked in mental health since 2003 and has provided therapy since 2011, bringing practical experience from a range of settings.
Background and approach
Jessica emphasizes a strong therapeutic connection and aims to build trust quickly so people feel heard and understood. Sessions typically focus on finding simple, useful steps that fit each person’s life. Her approach is collaborative and straightforward.
She may use solution-focused techniques to set short-term goals and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify patterns that keep problems going. Motivational interviewing can help when making changes feels hard, and trauma-focused work guides recovery from difficult experiences. Jessica has experience providing individual and group therapy for youth ages 5 to 18 and sometimes works with adults.
Her past roles include crisis intervention in a correctional facility, where she supported people experiencing acute suicidal thoughts and severe mental illness. That background informs a calm, practical style in sessions. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Black Hills State University and a Master of Social Work from Newman University.
Jessica is licensed in South Dakota as a Certified Social Worker in personal Independent Practice, CSW-PIP. She enjoys traveling and spending time outdoors when not working.
What Jessica works with
Everything Jessica lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Jessica helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Depression
- Compassion fatigue
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Coping with life changes
- Communication problems
- First responder issues
- Self-harm
Approaches Jessica lists
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
How Jessica Uses Practical Approaches Online
Jessica often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Solution-Focused Therapy in online sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps people spot unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors to reduce anxiety, depression, or sleep problems. Solution-Focused Therapy focuses on what is already working and builds small, realistic steps toward clear goals, which can be helpful for parenting challenges, communication problems, and life transitions.Choosing the right approach is a team effort. Jessica will talk with each person about their needs, goals, and preferences and recommend methods that fit. She adjusts plans as work progresses so the approach stays useful and relevant to real-life demands.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face work and visual cues, phone sessions require less bandwidth and can fit a work break, live chat is useful for brief check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing reflections between meetings. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy parenting schedule and to keep continuity when life is unpredictable.
Questions people ask about Jessica
What concerns does Jessica help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, compassion fatigue, addictions, LGBT issues, relationship and family struggles, sleeping problems, parenting, anger, self esteem, career issues, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She emphasizes a strong, trusting connection and keeps sessions practical. The work is collaborative and focuses on short, doable steps that fit daily life.
What is her clinical background?
Jessica has worked in mental health since 2003 and has practiced therapy since 2011, including crisis work in a correctional facility and experience with trauma, PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
What credentials and location apply to her practice?
She holds a Master of Social Work and is licensed in South Dakota as a Certified Social Worker in personal Independent Practice, CSW-PIP.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and she does not accept international clients at this time.
What session formats are offered?
Therapy is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and communication preferences.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin therapy with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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