Shelby Hartzell, LCSW, SEP

A woman sitting on a park bench smiling, with autumn trees in the background.

Hi! I’m Shelby, founder of Rooted Resilience.

I will be the first to tell you that I do not have all the answers or quick fixes. I am a fellow human being figuring this out and will not be a blank slate in sessions. I started Rooted Resilience for the purpose of bringing real, authentic, and unfiltered therapy to those who are seeking a deeper & more fulfilled life. My intention is to provide a space where you feel heard, seen, and understood. What I can promise you is that in sessions I will bring my full, authentic, and attuned self to our work together.

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Illinois as well as a Somatic Experiencing Practitioner. I am part of the Somatic Experiencing Institute Training Team as an assistant, and an approved session provider for students at the Beginning Level.

I specialize in the renegotiation of trauma and stress stored in the body, with a special focus on chronic illness, autoimmune disease, anxiety, and complex trauma.

My journey to somatic work came from a decades long journey to understand many chronic health concerns, many of which were ‘unexplained’. I have dedicated years to working through my own chronic health issues, stress, and burnout, and can promise that while I don’t know your exact story, I get what it’s like to not feel safe in your body. As a Type 1 Diabetic myself, I have a special interest in supporting other T1Ds in managing their diagnosis and treatment.

If you’re ready to get started, reach out below and let’s chat!

Schedule a session with Shelby

Specialties

  • Refers to long-term trauma (often in childhood or repeated relationships) that wires the brain for chronic threat—leading to persistent issues with emotional regulation, self-worth, relationships, and identity beyond classic PTSD. Find out more about trauma therapy here.

  • when early relationships meant to provide safety instead cause harm or inconsistency—shaping how a person learns to trust, connect, and feel safe with others.

  • when the nervous system gets stuck in survival mode—cycling between tension and shutdown instead of returning to a steady, regulated state.

  • the body often holds long-term stress and dysregulation in the form of very real pain, fatigue, or symptoms of illness. Shelby also works with many chronic medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes and autoimmune disease.

Additional areas of expertise:

  • Anxiety

  • Depression

  • Relational problems

  • Self-esteem

  • ADHD and neurodivergence

  • Spiritual and religious trauma

  • Suicidal ideation and self-injury

  • Transgenerational, systemic, and cultural trauma

  • Childhood abuse and neglect

  • Sexual abuse, assault, and shock traumas

Who I work with: I work with children, adolescents, and adults providing individual and family therapy. If you have specific questions about if my approach would be the right fit for you or your child, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I offer both in-person therapy in the Chicagoland suburbs as well as virtual therapy across the state of Illinois.

I am also an approved session provider for current Somatic Experiencing students at the Beginning Level. Current SE students looking for session credits can reach out to me here to schedule a session, or find more information at this page. Personal SE sessions are offered worldwide virtually and do not need to be in the state of Illinois.

Contact us here to set up a session!