Gwendolyn Shelton(She/Her/Hers)

Gwendolyn Shelton is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in San Diego. She works with adults of all ages. Many of Gwen’s clients come in to address stress and burnout, perfectionism, and church hurt & abuse. Gwen is particularly passionate about serving African American/Black women and people who are navigating their Christian faith. She also has advanced training in the area of trauma-informed care.

Gwen is primarily trained in family systems and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in which we explore your family background to get an understanding of how that has shaped who you are today, while also exploring how your previous experiences influence your way of thinking about yourself and others. We help build insight into how this impacts your feelings and behaviors and help identify strategies to shift your perspective and behaviors to how you would like to be. In session, Gwen focuses on authentic emotional expression to help release feelings of stress. This approach supports clients to have insight into the origins of their struggles and begin to make decisions for themselves that are congruent with their values and beliefs. They are equipped to break away from their patterns that have led to their current state and find a new way of being.

Gwen's style is empathetic, insight-oriented, and non-judgmental. When clients first start therapy, she will create a safe environment so that clients can show up as their authentic selves and work to get a holistic understanding of them and their goals.

Gwen received their Master of Arts from Bethel Seminary San Diego. She has worked at non-profit organizations, serving system-involved youth and families. Outside of private practice, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, watching movies, and volunteering with her local church. Gwen offers telehealth sessions for residents of California.