Shelley Majors

My name is Shelley Majors and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with an office in Claremont, California. I see clients online or in person depending on their preference. I work with individual adults and couples interested in changing some aspect of their lives.

My approach

I believe it’s important to find the therapeutic approach that fits for the client rather than having them adapt to a particular theoretical orientation. As a therapist who has been practicing for almost 30 years, I’ve trained on several theories but prefer a more eclectic approach which allows me to utilize whatever style seems to work for each client.

My focus

I love people and enjoy partnering with them in their journey. I’ve worked with clients struggling with anxiety, depression, and trauma as well as navigating unexpected crises in life and relationships. Whether it’s individuals or couples I believe my role is to partner with the client to help them determine the best way to move through their challenges. I don’t want to tell people what to do but to help them decide what they want.

My communication style

My communication style is friendly, casual, and supportive. I want my clients to feel comfortable to share their struggles without fear of judgment. The therapy space is a learning environment. We all deserve the freedom to fail if we’re going to learn.

My journey to mental healthcare

I was always the person people would come to with their problems. I was a good listener and always interested in offering help and support when I could. It took me a while to learn the importance of boundaries in a helping relationship. It was out of that learning that I decided to turn my natural abilities into a career. It is so rewarding to help people find their way to a better life and an honor to walk that journey with them.

My goals for you

I think it’s important to keep the goals of the client as the focus and priority of therapy. However, I also like to give my clients the freedom to let their goals evolve as they learn and grow in therapy. Most of the time people leave therapy without their original goals accomplished as they envisioned but with satisfaction with the broader perspective they have gained about their situation. The benefit of therapy is often in the unexpected learnings.

My first session with you

In our first session, I want to hear about what brought the client to therapy and get clarity on their needs and expectations. I see the first session as an opportunity to get to know each other and determine if we are a good fit. People are all different and not all therapists are right for every individual. I want to help them get a sense of me, I want to give them my impressions of their situation and some feedback about how I see the treatment experience moving forward. And I want to give them the freedom to decide whether they want to work with me or check out another therapist. And I want them to feel like that’s ok.