Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin, LICSW, LCSW

Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin is a licensed clinical social worker with three decades of experience. He helps people navigate relationship strain, trauma and abuse, depression, addiction, grief, career stress, and major life changes. He brings calm, practical guidance and a focus on building confidence and clearer choices.

He spent many years in executive roles at hospitals and health systems, including Kaiser Permanente, Mount Sinai, and Northwestern Memorial. That work shaped his skill at listening, organizing care, and supporting people through hard transitions. He earned a Master of Social Work from Loyola University and an MBA from North Park University, and holds LICSW and LCSW credentials.

In early sessions he focuses on understanding what brought a person in and on setting clear, achievable goals. He asks about personal history and current strengths, then maps out a straightforward plan. He uses methods drawn from cognitive behavioral, psychodynamic, and solution-focused work, tailoring choices to each person's needs.

Shelly emphasizes a nonjudgmental, client-centered style. He pays attention to feelings and life context, and helps people spot patterns that keep them stuck. The work blends practical skill building with attention to deeper experiences.

Outside of practice he lives in New Mexico, enjoys hiking, travel, reading, and art, and values persistence and positivity in everyday life.

How his approaches translate to online work

CBT, or cognitive behavioral therapy, focuses on identifying thought and behavior patterns that fuel distress and then practicing alternative responses. It is useful for depression, anxiety, addiction issues, and building coping skills. Emotionally-Focused Therapy centers on understanding emotional experiences and improving how people relate to their feelings and to others, which can be helpful for relationship concerns and processing trauma. Motivational Interviewing helps people find their own reasons for change and can support work on addictions and ambivalence about life shifts.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. He will work collaboratively to decide which methods fit a person’s goals and preferences. That conversation can include trying different techniques and checking in about what feels helpful as therapy progresses.

Confirm the therapist's available session formats before booking, since specific options are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, for example by removing travel time or allowing shorter check-ins between commitments. It can also let people use video when a visual connection helps, or opt for audio-only when bandwidth or a quieter setup is preferable. Licensed professionals tailor session pacing and tasks so therapy fits each person's schedule and everyday demands.