Online in California, Oregon, Washington
(Online Only)
I believe therapy is most healing when it feels like an authentic human relationship—one where curiosity, honesty, and courage can coexist. My role is to help you slow down enough to hear yourself, to notice old patterns that no longer serve you, and to create space for new ways of relating to yourself and others. I work collaboratively, with a balance of compassion and directness, to help you gain clarity about your needs and build a greater sense of agency in your life. Together, we work toward a kind of transformation that feels both deeply personal and sustainably real. Reach out to schedule a free 20 minute consultation call to see if we are a good fit for your therapy needs.
Client Focus
Session Format: Couple, Individual sessions.
Age Specialty: Adult, Young Adult
Demographic Expertise: Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, LDS/Mormon, LGBTQ+, Muslim, Women clients.
Languages: English
Treatment Approach
- Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT) Focuses on strengthening emotional bonds in couples or families. It helps people identify negative cycles and create more secure connections.
- Psychoanalytic Therapy Based on Freud’s theories, it explores unconscious conflicts and past experiences. It seeks to bring hidden issues into awareness.
- Psychodynamic Therapy Explores unconscious thoughts and patterns that influence current behavior. It builds insight into how the past impacts the present.
Approach Description: My approach is grounded in relational psychodynamic and attachment-based theories, centering the therapeutic relationship as the main vehicle for change. Through this work, we explore both conscious and unconscious patterns—how past experiences shape current ways of being, relating, and protecting ourselves. Sessions often involve deep emotional exploration, attention to the body’s wisdom, and curiosity about internal conflicts or defenses that arise in real time. I view therapy as a living relationship that reveals the very dynamics we seek to understand and transform.
In my work with couples, I draw from Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), an attachment-centered model that helps partners identify negative cycles, express deeper emotional needs, and rebuild safety and connection. Whether working individually or relationally, I approach therapy as a space to uncover meaning, expand self-understanding, and move toward more authentic ways of living and relating.
Fees & Insurance
Fees
- Average Session Fee 225
- Affordable sliding scale therapy: apply if you may be eligible.
- I offer a limited number of spots for “sliding-scale” patients (i.e. students, folks experiencing financial hardship). This is determined case-by-case.
- Out of Network
Education & Credentials
Dr. Shelby Kittinger PsyD
- Female
- License # 3597
- Licensed in Oregon
- Practicing Since 2016
Education: Dr. Shelby Kittinger is a licensed clinical psychologist practicing in Portland, Oregon. She earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology, Biola University in Southern California where she conducted research on the impact of religion on body image.
Dr. Shelby Kittinger Practice Details
Therapy Sessions
- Available Online for residents of California, Oregon, Washington
- Online Therapy Details: GoogleMeet
My clinical practice focuses on helping individuals and couples explore the roots of emotional pain, relational struggles, and inner conflict. I specialize in working with those navigating religious trauma, anxiety, perfectionism, identity exploration, and relational distress, as well as those experiencing grief, burnout, or a pervasive sense of “stuckness.” My work often supports people who are drawn to meaningful self-inquiry and long-term change rather than quick fixes. I also work extensively with couples to help them cultivate connection, mutual understanding, and more secure attachment. My practice affirms and welcomes LGBTQIA+ individuals, non-traditional relationships, and anyone seeking a space of depth, nuance, and genuine care.