Brooke Shafer

Brooke Shafer joins the Counseling Center Group bringing with her experience working in Washington, DC and Boston, MA. She has spent time in her career working in Elementary and Middle Schools and in mental health crisis situations, specializing in working with children, families, and young adults. Her clients have come from diverse backgrounds and have presented with difficulties managing anxiety, depression, trauma, self-harm, suicidal ideation, gender identity, sexual identity, and social difficulties. She also has experience working with children and adolescents on the Autism Spectrum or who have been diagnosed with other developmental and educational disabilities. 

Brooke’s primary counseling philosophy is the understanding that meeting the client where they are at is the best way to heal or progress. What works for one client one day may not be helpful for the next client, or even the next day for the same person. Allowing clients the space to both experience their feelings and problem solve in a given situation ensures that their personal therapeutic goals are within reach. 

Brooke offers each client unconditional positive regard and acceptance. Therapy will be individualized to each person, couple, or family to move towards their specific therapeutic goals, including the option to utilize teletherapy or in-person therapy. Clients can expect to be treated with respect and dignity throughout the therapeutic process.

She is also trained in Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART).

Brooke has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Human Development and Family Studies from Indiana University and a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling and Behavioral Medicine from Boston University and holds clinical licenses in both DC and Maryland. She is a DMV native and lives with her partner and one cat.