Overlapping Experiences of Neurodivergence & Complex Trauma with guest Shelby Williams

Shelby is a licensed social worker in the state of Michigan who specializes in complex trauma. Shelby graduated with her master of social work degree in 2020 from Grand Valley State University and has since worked as a children's homebased therapist in community mental health, and as an outpatient therapist in private practice with adults. She has experience working with children, families, perinatal mothers, and adults. Just like Kina, her favorite clients to work with are young adults who have struggled to gain deeper healing in therapy. As a trauma therapist, Shelby uses a variety of modalities and interventions, including Internal Family Systems/parts work, Polyvagal Theory, Compassion-Focused Therapy, Mindfulness, and Somatic Experiencing to attempt deeper healing and meaning. IFS is one of her favorite modalities because she has seen so many clients resonate with it (including herself), and has also seen such powerful shifts in how clients relate to themselves, the people in their lives, and to the world. IFS is an approach to complex trauma treatment, as well as various other treatments, that aims to integrate all "parts" or personalities of a person into a more functional and accepting whole system that is led by the self. The goal is to heal "wounded" parts and restore mental balance. She has found this modality especially effective for clients who tend to have dissociative symptoms and/or attachment/relational trauma. Shelby is currently based in Muskegon Michigan; for more information on her or how to work with her, you can find her information on Tiktok (@Shelby_thetherapist)."