Shelby Hartzell, LCSW, SEP
Hello, and welcome!
If you are reading this, you are already taking the first step towards creating the life that you desire. You may be experiencing stuck patterns due to past traumatic experiences, difficulty within relationships, or chronic stress or illness that has been challenging to manage. If you are seeking a life with more depth, greater joy and fulfillment, and increased regulation within your body, you've come to the right place.
I will be the first to tell you that I do not have all the answers or quick fixes. I will bring my knowledge, experience, and training, and you will bring your lived experience. I believe you are the expert in your own life, and together, we will identify what feels the most supportive for you. My intention is to provide a space where you feel heard, seen, and understood.
I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker in the state of Illinois as well as a certified 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 traumatic experiences and somatic stress which has led to a deeper passion and commitment to supporting others in their journey to trauma renegotiation, nervous system regulation, and breaking free from chronic pain and illness. As a Type 1 Diabetic myself, I have a special interest in supporting other T1Ds in managing their diagnosis and treatment.
I have always believed that healing was possible, but it wasn’t until I discovered Somatic Experiencing for myself that I truly was able to gain deep respect for my own resilience and capacity for growth and healing.
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.
