“Being empathetic is seeing the world through the eyes of the other, not seeing your world reflected in their eyes.”
Dr. Carl Rogers
My Mission
My goal as a practitioner is to create a sense of connection with each client to ease the worries that come with starting therapy. I believe that creating a strong therapeutic relationship with my clients supports the healing journey.
Shelby Petro, LMHC
Hello, my name is Shelby, and I am a dually Licensed Mental Health Counselor in both RI and MA. I utilize evidenced based theories such as: CBT, DBT, EMDR, and the Flash Technique. I'm a neurodiversity-affirming trauma-informed therapist located in Rhode Island.
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What does it mean to be both neurodiversity-affirming and trauma-informed? Neurodiversity is a term coined by the sociologist Dr. Judy Singer to refer to how each person’s brain develops differently, and how these differences impact how each of us thinks, feels, behaves, and perceives the world around us (Marschall, 2022).
The approach of being a neurodiversity affirming therapist, is a therapeutic lens that emphasizes that differences in human brains are normal and not meant to be "fixed". Looking at neurodivergent brains in a more strengths-based and compassionate way helps reduce the shame that comes from being "outside" the set neurotypical standards. This does not take away from acknowledging the very real struggles that can come with being neurodivergent, but instead looks more at developing tools to support you along your journey.
Think about what tends to promote healing and change, is it when we are harsh with ourselves? Or is it when we look at ourselves with acceptance and understanding? This is what I strive to promote in the therapy room as your therapist.
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Seeking out a therapist that "feels like the right fit" can be really challenging. Most people when they first enter the therapy room can feel unsure of what the next steps are, or even what they're looking for from therapy. It can feel intense to open up to someone new and be vulnerable about your mental health struggles.
I have been working professionally in the mental health field for over 8 years; working in a variety of settings with a diverse clientele. Some of the previous settings I have worked in are: community mental health, outpatient, hospital, and support and stabilization services.
I work with clients to help them manage life transitions, relationship concerns, stress, symptoms of anxiety, symptoms of depression, burnout, and trauma. My specialities are working with clients who have PTSD, anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, ADHD, and ASD. I am very passionate about working with both the LGBTQIA+ and neurodiverse population.
I offer both telehealth and in-person sessions for prospective clients at this time.
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If you would like to schedule an appointment, please contact me via my email : tranquilwavescounseling@proton.me.
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