Therapist Brian Shapiro Photo

Brian Shapiro, LMFT

Stress, Anxiety Relationships Family conflicts Trauma, Abuse Intimacy
Video Phone Live Chat Messaging

About me

Hello! Very nice to meet you! While I do not yet know you personally, clients have often told me that seeking out a therapist for yourself can be an exciting, challenging and sometimes stressful experience in itself! Which therapist will I be able to relate to? Which therapist might best understand me and my own unique feelings and life experiences? It takes real courage to take this first step on this journey toward self-discovery and change. Perhaps you will choose me to be the one to help guide you.
I have over 35 years of experience in practice as a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, first in California, and then in Idaho. A Masters Level graduate of the University of Southern California's (USC) Graduate School of Counseling, I have extensive experience working with both individuals and couples, along with families in many different settings and from many different backgrounds .

One specialty area of my practice has been devoted to assisting survivors of physical, sexual, and emotional trauma and abuse, including survivors of childhood abuse and neglect and domestic violence. Survivors of such abuse can sometimes suffer from after effects of trauma, such as emotional difficulties, problems with trusting others, anxiety and panic type attacks, and ongoing physical ailments. This kind of post traumatic stress (PTSD) can manifest itself in survivors of childhood and domestic violence.

Sometimes these past experiences can be the cause of problems in the bedroom, including sexual dysfunction, trust issues, and problems with sexual intimacy. The good news is that these problems are treatable. If this sounds like you, let me help you with this. The worst thing you can do is nothing.

My approach to the counseling experience is simple and straightforward. I believe that most everyone has the potential to learn, grow, and ultimately change if they so desire. For many, this process of self exploration is unfamiliar and even the thought of it can be anxiety provoking at first. For others, there is a sense of relief at finally disclosing to another human being the often hidden thoughts and feelings they have been experiencing and perhaps suffering from for so long. I am first and always a caring, empathetic, and emotionally supportive listener. You set the pace of this process. I am here to help guide and assist you.

I work in various treatment modalities, and you will often hear therapists advertise about the types of treatments they utilize. Words such as cognitive, or cognitive behavioral, or psychodynamic are often used. Rather than telling you which approach is best, I will instead direct your attention to the numerous studies conducted over many years now which largely agree on one thing. Mainly, that the relationship which develops between the therapist and the client is single most important factor in achieving successful outcomes. And while required continuing education courses keep all clinicians current in this ever changing field, I believe that it is the personal characteristics of the therapist you choose to be most important. The therapist you choose should be skilled in fostering a positive, empathetic, and caring therapeutic relationship in which the client can safe to explore and discover themselves at their own pace with the therapist guiding and encouraging, but not dictating, their progress.

I believe you will find me capable of fostering a positive and caring relationship with you which you will find to be emotionally supportive as well as solution focused, and tailored to your specific needs.

Professional experience

46yrs in practice
Stress, Anxiety Relationships Family conflicts Trauma, Abuse Intimacy

Additional areas of focus: Grief, Parenting issues, Anger management, Self esteem, Career difficulties, Bipolar disorder, Depression, Coping with life changes, Coaching, Compassion fatigue, Abandonment, Adoption and foster care, Aging and geriatric issues, Antisocial personality, Attachment issues, Blended family issues, Caregiver issues and stress, Chronic pain, illness, and disability, Codependency, Commitment issues, Communication problems, Control issues, Coping with natural or human-caused disaster, Dependent personality, Dissociation, Divorce and separation, Domestic violence, Family of origin issues, Family problems, First responder issues, Forgiveness, Guilt and shame, Infidelity, Intellectual disability, Jealousy, Life purpose, Men's issues, Midlife crisis, Mood disorders, Narcissism, Panic disorder and panic attacks, Personality disorders, Post-traumatic stress, Sexual assault and abuse, Sexual dysfunction, Sexuality

Clinical approaches: Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Gottman Method, Psychodynamic Therapy

Services offered

Video
Phone
Live Chat
Messaging

License information

ID LMFT LMFT-32

Reviews

These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Brian Shapiro. We don't pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.

Brian is easy to talk to, he is very empathetic and intuitive. I feel he can relate to my concerns and he is engaged and excited to help me work through them.

Written on Jan 03, 2024 after therapy with Brian for 2 years and 11 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and coping with life changes

Brian is empathetic and very honest

Written on Oct 18, 2023 after therapy with Brian for 6 months on issues concerning relationship issues, and intimacy-related issues

Brian Shapiro is a top notch professional. He is very relatable and trustworthy. He is kind and honest. I would highly recommend Brian!

Written on Jul 30, 2023 after therapy with Brian for 3 weeks on issues concerning depression, stress, anxiety, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, anger management, and career difficulties

Brian is great and very knowledgeable

Written on Jun 01, 2023 after therapy with Brian for 2 weeks on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, and coping with life changes

He really is great. Very helpful. I highly recommend him. Sincerely cares.

Written on Mar 25, 2023 after therapy with Brian for 5 months on issues concerning addictions, and relationship issues

Brian has been amazing in my journey back to myself. I felt so lost when we started working together but Brian helped me learn more about myself and has given me such great tools to live a more authentic life. I feel incredibly fortunate to have crossed paths with him in my healing.

Written on Jan 17, 2023 after therapy with Brian for 2 months on issues concerning stress, anxiety, relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, and intimacy-related issues