Dr. Shelby Kittinger (She/Her)

PsyD
Accepting Clients

Dr. Kittinger provides depth-oriented psychotherapy and specializes in religious & relational trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, and body image

Clinical Psychologist in Newport Beach, CA

About My Clients

I work best with adults seeking meaningful, depth-oriented change—those wanting to move beyond quick fixes and understand the deeper patterns shaping their lives. My approach is direct, compassionate, and purposeful, inviting my patients into challenging but transformative work. I come alongside people with curiosity, supporting the development of self-compassion, acceptance, and a grounded, authentic sense of self through thoughtful, exploratory therapy.

My Background and Approach

As a relational psychodynamic therapist, my work centers on transformational change through the therapeutic relationship. I engage patients with a balance of acknowledging pain and honoring their resilience, offering direct yet compassionate guidance as we move together toward healing. My depth-oriented approach supports lasting shifts by prioritizing authenticity in each moment and exploring both conscious and unconscious patterns—how you relate to yourself, to others, and to the world. I’m especially drawn to helping patients work through past wounds and illuminate the many ‘parts’ within them, fostering a more cohesive and integrated sense of self. Together, we explore your wants, needs, and values while expanding your capacity for agency, compassion, and radical acceptance. Ultimately, my hope is to help you cultivate a whole, deeply known, and honored sense of self.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

As a psychotherapist, I hold an existential belief that healing requires confronting what feels ‘unacceptable’—the parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to hide, minimize, or reject. I’m deeply committed to honoring all identities, backgrounds, and lived experiences, recognizing the profound impact of culture, systems, and history on our inner worlds. My work invites patients to question inherited narratives and the social and capitalistic values that shape our sense of worth. Together, we explore what is genuinely meaningful, helping you discern your own values, truths, and purposes. I believe that facing discomfort with honesty and compassion is the pathway to freedom, authenticity, and a more intentional way of being.

I offer online counseling in the following states:
I have experience with the following
  • Agnosticism
  • Atheism
  • Christianity
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
  • Jehovah's Witnesses
  • Judaism
  • The Satanic Temple
  • Wicca/Paganism
  • Interfaith
  • Multifaith

At A Glance

  • Experience: 9 years of practice
  • Languages: English
  • Rate: $225 - 285/session

Info

Email Dr. Shelby
23 Corporate Plaza Drive
Suite 150
Newport Beach, CA 92660

Reach out to Dr. Shelby