Brandon Shultz, PsyD, LPC

Psychotherapist

Contact Me Directly

Treatment Philosophy

I believe that everyone deserves an opportunity to identify and live what matters to them the most—their values. Therapy is most successful when we feel heard while at the same time have someone stand with us and be present with the discomfort we face in life and take the next step forward. My aim is to build a working relationship where clients feel safe and seen, and where their actions are congruent or balanced with the lives they truly want to build for themselves. In this process, clients will be more present, open up to challenges in life and do what matters most to them.

I strive to include clients in creating plans for moving through their treatment goals in a flexible, adaptive way. This includes looking for opportunities to progress client goals in unique, challenging and even fun ways. My aim is to help support the growth clients want to live their best lives through following their values.

  • When working with adolescents and adults, I utilize an approach based in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and the “DNA-v model” of ACT and Positive Psychology. In addition, I also utilize elements of Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). Other interventions I utilize within my therapeutic approach include Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) and Motivational Interviewing (MI). My clinical specialties include Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD-and those diagnosed or preferring to identify as Asperger’s), neurodivergent individuals, ADHD, addiction, Substance Use Disorders (SUDs), anxiety disorders, depression, OCD and couples’ issues.

    I have an extensive background working with adolescents and young adults. When working with these clients, my approach includes using games, media and special interests in helpful and balanced ways. I also make a point to learn about my adolescent and young adult clients’ interests to build a strong therapeutic relationship and to build strengths in prosocial ways.

    When I am not working with clients, I enjoy video games, building computers, listening to music, following tech reviews, learning how to cook from online videos, reading about science and listening to podcasts.

  • I earned my Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Xavier University (OH), Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology and a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.) from the Illinois School of Professional Psychology. In my graduate school training, I worked in various settings including an outpatient clinic focused on assessing and treating adult men involved in the justice system; an outpatient adolescent Substance Use Disorder clinic; a private Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) focusing on health psychology issues; and a psychiatric hospital setting focused on outpatient Substance Use Disorder treatment. I completed my Clinical Research Project, commonly known as a dissertation, on increasing couples’ investment in therapy together through several structured sessions of exercises designed to help them identify and progress in living their shared values.

    Since then, I have also gained experience working in treatment clinics for Substance Use Disorder clients, community mental health programs on an Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) team and have worked the last several years with Autistic adolescents in a hospital-based outpatient program. I have presented on the topics of Substance Use Disorder treatment with Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT), neurodiversity and neurodivergence.

  • Age 11 & up