About Our Work

What is your approach?

I want you to develop insight and self awareness as well as be able to take action to improve your life and relationships. I am very multi-faceted in my counseling work and I have loads of helpful tools, talents and skills to assist you. For example, I may suggest books, movies, TED talks, journaling or experiences.

I am fascinated by the many stories that our minds create and how even when they are untrue, these stories influence us and may hurt us. I will help you analyze situations in your personal and professional life and develop strategies that work for you.

Are you going to tell me what to do?

 Advice is not all that helpful. I am sure that you already have people who tell you what you should do. I believe that you are the expert in your life and I am here to join you as you walk down your path. I can help you sort out your thoughts and feelings in ways that help you feel better.

I can teach you relational skills to help you get what you want. I will support, challenge, articulate and share your process.

Do I really need therapy?  I usually can handle my problems.

I know that people who attend counseling are 6 times more likely to feel better than those who try to solve their problems on their own. Most of my clients have relatively functional lives but everyone goes through challenging situations or transitions that just feel too big to handle alone or without another perspective.

It may be that you want to make a change in your life and you need some support and coaching. In fact, counseling usually works best for those who have enough self awareness to realize that they could have more happiness with some help.  It is actually a courageous step that many are afraid to make.

HOW IT WORKS

 What is the best way to make an appointment?

You will get an appointment set up more quickly if you call me at 949–922–7800.  I realize that many people would prefer to email me (Shelley@shelleywilson.com) or text me and I do respond promptly; however, before I make an initial appointment for you, I will need to talk with you to ensure that I can address your concerns appropriately.

What is your schedule and how long are the sessions?

I see clients during the week with appointments available throughout the day and evening. I am only in my Temecula office on Wednesday. I am in my Orange County office the rest of the week. Individual sessions are generally 45 – 50 minutes in length.  I see couples for an initial 75 minute meeting.  If we find that you prefer longer sessions, I can create that opportunity in my schedule.

Where are you located?

 My Newport Beach office is located at 901 Dove Street, Suite 260, Newport Beach, CA
(near the John Wayne Airport at the intersection of Jamboree and MacArthur).

My Temecula office is located at 41690 Enterprise Circle North, Suite 209, Temecula, CA
(Wednesday only).

What happens at the first appointment?

 You will need to complete some initial paperwork. You can either download the forms below and bring the completed paperwork with you to our first session or I will have it waiting for you on a clipboard in the lobby before our meeting. I will greet you in the lobby at our appointment time and bring you into my confidential consulting room.

After we are in my office, I really want to know what is going on with you.  What is not working for you in your life?  What do you want?  Many clients tell me that they feel some relief after the first session because they began to speak their truth to a caring person.  This is the opportunity to decide if you feel comfortable with me and for me to provide a safe, supportive environment for you.  If you have concerns at any time, please discuss them with me since you will gain the most benefit when you feel comfortable in our therapeutic relationship.

How often would we be meeting?

 At the beginning, I recommend that we meet weekly to address the issues that bring you to counseling so that you can feel some relief and we can create a working relationship.  As we progress together, we can explore a schedule that best meets your needs.  If you are in crisis, additional sessions may be helpful to support you and help you cope with the crisis.

How many sessions will I need?

I cannot guarantee that your concerns will be resolved in a specific number of sessions or how long your counseling will last.  It will depend on your presenting concerns, how long the problems have existed, how willing you are to do the work and what issues arise in the therapy process. Usually, we can sense together when your counseling is coming to an end.  At that point, we can look at where you are and whether your life is working for you.

You may find that you need to end counseling earlier than expected.  That’s alright. You can always call me if you find that you want to return in the future and we can determine what is best for you at that point in time.

Insurance & Payment

 Do you accept insurance?

I understand that using health insurance can be important when you have medical issues and expenses, However, I am not contracted with any insurance panels and do not accept medical insurance as reimbursement.

I have chosen not to get on insurance panels because I believe there are too many risks and drawbacks when using insurance in counseling. In order to use your medical insurance coverage, you must be given a mental disorder diagnosis which will be included in your medical records. This may complicate issues later when you might be asked “have you ever been diagnosed with a mental illness?” on a job application or a life or health insurance application.

I want to protect confidentiality, maintain the integrity of your therapeutic goals, and not pathologize your situation.  I want to work on the issues that are important to you, not what the insurance company believes is best for you or what is included in the coverage.

If your insurance covers out-of-network benefits, I will be happy to provide you a statement that you can submit for reimbursement if you qualify.

What are your payment options?

 Payment is due at the time of the session.  I accept cash, checks, debit cards, MasterCard and Visa.  I also accept FSA/HSA cards with the MasterCard or Visa logo.

Forms

If you choose, please download and print the following forms.

You will need to complete and sign the Client Information form and the Treatment Policies prior to our first session. You can either bring them with you to my office or email them to me.

• Confidential Client Information
• Social Media and Technology Policy for Psychotherapists
• Telemedicine Informed Consent
• Treatment Policies (Newport Beach)
• Treatment Policies (Temecula)

“Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.
The important thing is not to stop questioning.”
Einstein