Therapy works best when it feels like a real relationship, one where you can be honest about what’s hard without worrying about being judged. That’s what I try to build with every client: trust, transparency, and a shared sense of what we’re working toward.
I’ve been practicing since earning my MSW from Washington University in St. Louis in 2019. I work with adults and couples navigating anxiety, depression, mood challenges, relationship strain, codependency, substance use, trauma, faith and spiritual questions, and the loneliness that can sit underneath all of it. I’m an LGBTQ+-affirming therapist and I bring cultural humility to every session.
I’ve also been a therapy client myself. I know it takes courage to reach out, and I don’t take that lightly.
How I work
My approach is grounded in Dialectical Behavior Therapy. DBT holds two truths at once: you’re doing the best you can, and you can learn new ways of coping. Together we’ll build practical skills for regulating emotions, tolerating distress, staying present, and asking for what you need in relationships, while also making room for the parts of your story that need to be heard.
Depending on what fits you, I also draw from:
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Mindfulness-based approaches
- Motivational interviewing
- Person-centered and strengths-based care
Why astrology?
For many people, astrology is already a language they use to think about themselves and their relationships. When a client finds it meaningful, I can bring the birth chart into our work as a symbolic, reflective lens, a way to open conversations about patterns, values, and relationships. It never replaces evidence-based care, and it’s always your choice. Learn about astrology-informed therapy.
The name
In astrology, the seventh house is the house of partnership and one-on-one relationships. It’s where we meet the other, and where we learn about ourselves through connection. That’s the heart of this practice.
You may also find me on Psychology Today and in the Georgia license lookup as Shelby Banach.