Shelby Mette

Do you struggle with anxiety? Maybe your heart races, you're experiencing intrusive thoughts, or struggling with low self-esteem? Do you ever find yourself depressed or feeling inadequate? Maybe you're feeling defeated and can't vocalize the discomfort you have, but you know you feel stuck. If you don’t have the accurate language to identify or communicate how you’re feeling, it’s challenging to ask for the specific support you need or manage emotions in a productive manner.

It can be exhausting trying to navigate such powerful emotions on your own!

Therapist Shelby Mette uses a collaborative approach, as she believes clients are the experts of their lives and already have the internal resources needed for healing. Sometimes, this “knowing” can be hidden under layers of doubt or self-protection. Shelby is passionate about exploring these layers with her clients and working together to put specific language to their experiences, as language is a portal to healing!

In addition to anxiety, depression, chronic pain, and OCD, Shelby is passionate about working with those who have chronic pain and somatic symptom disorders. She strives towards helping others build up their insight and self-awareness, which allows them to develop healthier and more effective coping skills to better manage life stressors.

Shelby grew up in Marine City, Michigan. Her hometown is beautiful, but being a small town, residents had limited access to mental health resources, and it also lacked the diversity Shelby was looking for in her environment. While earning her Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Grand Valley State University, Shelby worked at a behavioral health facility and a psychiatric hospital. She took pride in advocating for underserved and vulnerable populations.

Shortly after, she started her graduate studies at Western Michigan University and began working at Helen Devos Children’s Hospital as a psychometrist, focusing on assessment and evaluation. It taught her the importance of examining symptoms carefully and with curiosity, so she can identify conditions and apply the most effective treatment in therapy.

In her free time, Shelby finds immense joy and gratitude spending time with her husband, daughter, and dog. Becoming a mom and watching her toddler grow has given her the most rewarding, chaotic, fulfilling role. Shelby also enjoys traveling and exploring new areas, being around a body of water, camping, and playing cards or board games with family and friends. 99% of the time she can be found rewatching every episode of Friends. To use the words of dear Ross, Shelby can help you “PIVOT!” whatever you need to adjust in life.

Click here to view Shelby's profile on Psychology Today!