With over 30 years of experience, Shelley Kavanagh is deeply committed to helping adolescents, young adults, and families navigate life’s most challenging emotional and behavioral struggles. A compassionate and skilled practitioner, Shelley specializes in working with individuals who have experienced trauma, face self-harming behaviors, or struggle with intense emotional regulation.
Shelley’s unique approach integrates Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), art therapy, and mindfulness practices, offering clients a safe space to explore, heal, and grow. Her creative and evidence-based methods foster strong therapeutic alliances, empowering her clients to regain control over their emotions and build meaningful connections.
In addition to her private practice, Shelley provides clinical consultation to the Toronto District School Board, the Child and Youth Advocacy Centre, and numerous community-based organizations. She also designs and delivers specialized staff training programs to enhance mental health support across various sectors and has presented both nationally and internationally on the use of art therapy in healing.
Beyond therapy, Shelley is a passionate advocate for art and community engagement. She has led impactful community art activism projects, has contributed to professional development as a clinical supervisor and faculty member at the Toronto Art Therapy Institute, and has shared her expertise at Humber College. Shelley is also a published author, contributing to the groundbreaking work “DBT-Informed Art Therapy in Practice.”
Shelley’s warmth, creativity, and depth of knowledge make her a trusted guide for clients seeking a path to resilience, emotional balance, and self-discovery.
If you’d like to work with Shelley, please schedule a Discovery Call with our Care Coordination Team. They will reach you at your chosen time and then move your request forward to Shelley or another more suitable therapist right away.
