Courtney Shen DeShetler (she/her)

My graduate education and training up until now has focused on work with diverse populations. I use a Relational-Cultural approach to therapy that highlights the impact of context on the wellbeing of a person and/or relationship. This approach recognizes the unique intersections of one's cultural identity (e.g. gender, ethnicity, race, faith, socioeconomic status, gender identity, sexual orientation, ability status, etc.) and how these intersections impact a person's wellbeing.

My experience growing up as a child of divorce and in a blended family naturally led me to become fascinated by human relationships and by what makes them work or not work. After experiencing numerous relationship challenges in my life, I wanted to become a therapist that helps others navigate the messiness of relationships. As a therapist, I have helped many young couples and adults work through relationship challenges and gain confidence in their ability to thrive in relationships.

We don't come into this world questioning our self-worth, and yet many, if not most, of us begin to question this at some point in our lives. The source of our doubt may stem from family, our peers, society, the media, past traumatic experiences, or all of the above. Regardless of where this doubt comes from, it often feels as if it originated from within us. We begin to wonder if we really are inferior or less than other people.

We don't come into this world questioning our self-worth, and yet many of us begin to question this at some point in our lives. The source of our doubt may stem from family, peers, society, the media, religious doctrine, past traumatic experiences, or all of the above. Regardless of where this doubt comes from, it can feel as if it originated from within us. We begin to wonder if (or even believe that) we really are inferior or less than other people. I help people work through

We don't come into this world questioning our worth, and yet many of us begin to question it at some point in our lives. The source of our doubt may stem from family, peers, society, media, religion, traumatic experiences, or all of the above. Regardless of where this doubt comes from, it can feel as if it originated from within us. We begin to believe that we really are less than other people. I help people weed out these external messages and reacquaint themselves with their inherent worth.

My experience growing up as a child of divorce and in a blended family naturally led me to become fascinated by human relationships and by what makes them work or not work. As a therapist, I help couples and adults work through relationship challenges and gain confidence in their ability to thrive in relationships.

As an intersectional feminist, wife, mother and woman of color, I have a passion for serving a diverse group of women. For two years in my doctoral training, I worked primarily with a diverse group of women at Mount Saint Mary's University (a historically all-women's college) and His Sheltering Arms, a residential treatment facility for women with co-occurring addiction and trauma. My approach to therapy integrates the impact of power and privilege on a woman's wellbeing.

Much of my work and experience with couples up until now has focused on a diverse population of young couples (20 and 30-somethings) seeking counseling prior to marriage. I use a Relational-Cultural approach that helps each partner gain insight into the impact of their intersecting identities and past experiences on their current relationship, as well as a Gottman Method Couples Therapy approach that provides effective strategies and tools to create and maintain healthy relationships.

Much of my work and experience with couples up until now has focused on a diverse population of young couples (20 and 30-somethings) seeking counseling prior to marriage. I use a Relational-Cultural approach that helps each partner gain insight into the impact of their intersecting identities and past experiences on their current relationship, as well as a Gottman Method Couples Therapy approach that provides effective strategies and tools to create and maintain healthy relationships.