Meet Shelby Mcdaniel | Owner & Licensed Therapist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelby Mcdaniel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelby, what do you attribute your success to?
I think a lot of factors go into making someone successful and those factors will be different for each person based on their own strengths. I work hard to be organized and timely for my clients, but as a therapist running my own private practice, I think the biggest factor to my success has been leaning into my authenticity. When I was a new therapist, I thought I had to be able to work with every type of diagnosis or need and basically be the right therapist for everyone; this mentality would have burned me out quickly. Thankfully, I had a really fantastic mentor who helped me see that I would actually be able to better serve clients if I figured out my strengths as a therapist and how to come with my authentic self to reach the clients who that would resonate with best. Now, that authenticity influences every part of my business and brand from my marketing, the type of clients I take on, my consults with new clients, my work with ongoing clients, and my own presentation in a session. I strive to be up-front and my genuine self from the first initial consultation so a potential client can know what they would be getting with me and feel like they are making an informed decision about me being the right therapist fit for them or not. This also enables clients to come as their authentic self, which sets the stage for a strong therapeutic relationship and long-term success in running a private practice.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with a private practice in Colorado. I provide individual therapy for adults struggling with mental health concerns and specialize in treating eating disorders, anxiety, and low self-worth. I welcome all races, religions, genders, and sexual identities. I especially love to work with female-identifying clients who want to shed shaming, debilitating narratives and instead harness their individual power. I pride myself on trying to create a therapeutic space that is welcoming, humorous, authentic, and built on trust. I want my clients to know they have someone in their corner who will support them and also challenge them to make the changes they want to make, and I love watching their progress. I also welcome all pets into the virtual therapy space! Clients might catch a glimpse of my “therapy dog.”

It has definitely not been easy. Things frequently did not go as I had planned, and I often had to pivot or manage change as it was happening. I was working full-time during my first year of graduate school which came with challenges of work overload, missing time with friends and family, and chronic stress. During my second year of graduate school came the challenge of trying to maintain any form of financial stability while working as an unpaid intern for months at a time. My first clinical job started right before COVID hit, so I was very quickly thrown into the deep-end of what it was like to be a therapist during an unprecedented time. I also had to figure out my style as a therapist and learn how to trust my clinical skills. Through all of the challenges, though, I think the best lessons I learned were to 1) trust myself, and 2) build a network of trusted colleagues and mentors with whom you can seek support and offer reciprocal help.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Colorado has so many great things to offer, so it’s hard to name it all! I would definitely recommend some type of sports game depending on whatever sport is in season since Denver has a really fun fan/crowd atmosphere. I love a museum, especially a smaller one, so I highly recommend the Clyfford Still Museum. I’m not as big of a beer lover as a lot of people in Colorado, but I do enjoy New Terrain in Golden. I live in Arvada and love to go to Olde Town Arvada, especially to hit School House Tavern for their whiskey selection. Also, you can’t go wrong with the big staples like Red Rocks, Rocky Mountain National Park, or a mountain town like Crested Butte or Buena Vista.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
There are a ton of people I could dedicate this Shoutout to; I feel grateful to have great family, friends, and mentors who have helped me in this journey.

My first dedication goes to the first therapist I ever had, Libby, who changed my life and goals for myself. I wouldn’t be a therapist if I had never met her and experienced firsthand what a truly compassionate and empathic therapist can do for someone.

A second dedication would go to my Colorado mentor, Morgen Villegas, who instilled a new level of confidence in me as a therapist and helped me harness my strengths and skills to open my own practice.

My last dedication would go to my family and friends who have provided me unending and vital support throughout my life.

Website: https://www.shelbymcdaniellcsw.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelbymcdaniel

Other: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/therapists/shelby-mcdaniel-lcsw-pllc-denver-co/1118634