- ACT and CBT methods
- Trauma and grief
- Substance use recovery
About Brian
Dr. Brian Shaffer is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in New Hampshire and a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Nevada with 20 years of experience. He works with adults on issues such as addiction, trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy concerns, and challenges common to young adulthood like career stress and life transitions.
He uses a person-centered way of working that focuses on what the individual brings to the room. That means asking questions, listening, and helping people identify goals they want to reach. He draws on several practical approaches including cognitive and behavioral tools to manage symptoms, and mindfulness-based skills to handle stress.
When substance use or past trauma are part of the picture he helps people talk through those experiences and the ways they affect current behavior. He also discusses how spiritual beliefs fit into recovery and coping, if the client wants that included. The emphasis is on concrete steps toward improved daily functioning rather than labels or abstract theory.
Brian has long experience supporting people through endings, loss, and the complex feelings that follow. He also works with those facing burnout and compassion fatigue in caregiving roles. His background includes assessment and intervention across mental health, addiction, trauma, grief, and spiritual care.
People who meet with him can expect a collaborative process that combines practical skills work with space to process emotion. Before booking, confirm the current session options and any scheduling details that matter to you.
How his therapeutic approaches work in online sessions
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts without getting stuck in them, and then choose actions that reflect their values. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions where feeling stuck is common.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT offers practical skills for managing symptoms like panic, low mood, and unhelpful habits tied to substance use.
Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful. That conversation guides whether to emphasize ACT, CBT, attachment ideas, or a mix of methods.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm which online options are offered before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy around school, work, or caregiving. It can also allow shorter check-ins, avoid travel time, and let sessions happen from a location with fewer distractions or easier scheduling. Licensed professionals typically adapt the tools above so skills practice and emotional processing translate to remote sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he help with for young adults?
He works with stress, anxiety, addiction, career strain, relationship and intimacy issues, and common young adult transitions like leaving home or starting a first job.
What is his style in sessions?
He uses a person-centered approach that combines listening with practical tools from cognitive behavioral and acceptance-based methods.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 20 years of experience providing counseling, assessment, and intervention in mental health, addiction, trauma, and grief.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He holds LCMHC in New Hampshire and LCPC in Nevada and practices from Pennsylvania as listed in his profile.
Can I work with him if I live outside the US?
Sessions are offered in English and he does accept international clients; confirm any cross-border session details before scheduling.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.