Contact information:
Email- shirley@selrodtherapy.com
Phone: 215-650-3034
I work as a licensed marriage and family therapist in Pennsylvania and hold a Master of Arts in Clinical Counseling from LaSalle University in Philadelphia. My background includes over 25 years of experience, beginning with my early work in a hospital setting as a crisis worker for psychiatric emergencies. Missing the ongoing therapeutic connection I was initially trained in, I returned to therapy work at a community clinic, where I had the opportunity to support a diverse population with a wide range of therapeutic needs. I truly value the long-term relationships I build with my clients — it creates the space for us to explore concerns more fully throughout our work together.
Early in my career, I developed a deep interest in grief and loss — not only because of the lack of services available for grieving individuals, but also from a growing curiosity about how we, as a society,
cope with the one experience we all inevitably face: death — of those we love, those we once loved, those with whom we had complicated relationships, and eventually, our own. This passion led me to specialize in death, dying and bereavement, earning the credential of Fellow in Thanatology from the Association for Death Education and Counseling as well as co-founding a comprehensive grief center in the greater Philadelphia area.
Over time, my work with grieving people led me to a deeper understanding of how relational trauma can shape and complicate the grieving process. Many people find themselves suffering even more with their grief when difficult past experiences — often rooted in childhood or significant relationships — continue to surface, making it challenging to fully integrate the loss and live with ease. This evolving interest led me to pursue extensive training in relational trauma (complex interpersonal trauma) through The Kiln School, a training program in Portland, Oregon, where I continue to engage in ongoing education.
I offer therapy through telehealth to individuals located anywhere in Pennsylvania. Whether you are seeking to make sense of unresolved traumas, need support with grief or a place to talk about daily struggles, I am here with empathy, dedication, and a genuine commitment to hold space for your healing with care and intention.
Have questions about how therapy works or what to expect? You can find more details in the FAQ section.
I work with adults seeking support for a range of emotional challenges — whether you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or working to make sense of past experiences that still shape the present.
You don’t need a "big" reason to begin therapy — just a willingness to explore and care for your inner world. Whether you’re facing something concrete or simply yearning for space to reflect and grow, therapy can be a meaningful step.
Connected to this type of support, I also have a deep interest in grief and relational trauma — which often underlies or intersects with the emotional challenges people carry. You can read more about these focus areas below or if you're interested in scheduling a consultation or starting therapy, you can reach out here.
Grief therapy is a form of support that helps individuals navigate the pain of loss — not only through death, but also through significant life transitions. These may include the end of a relationship, changes in one’s sense of identity, aging, or other profound shifts that alter how a person experiences themselves and their world. This type of therapy gives one a safe space to talk about feelings, understand emotions, and find ways to heal at their own pace.
When dealing with grief from a death, change presents itself in many ways; it’s an upheaval that can leave one untethered. Sometimes there is unfinished business with the person that died that needs to be worked through. A review of the relationship may be necessary to figure out what was lost and what remains.
At times, the loss feels too big to make sense of, and we may wonder how — or even if — we can carry on. But by allowing space for grief to be expressed, we open the possibility of release: from old struggles, lingering questions, and unspoken feelings. The goal isn’t to forget the person or the relationship, but to integrate the loss into our lives, to find a way forward that honors both the past and the present.
Relational trauma occurs when someone experiences deep emotional wounds within important relationships, often due to betrayal, neglect, or abuse by a trusted person. Since relational trauma is rooted in relationships, it deeply affects emotional regulation, self-perception, and interpersonal dynamics, often leaving emotional scars. Unlike single-event traumas, which can have a profound and lasting impact, relational trauma is typically ongoing and can deeply influence how a person
understands themselves, their capacity to trust others, and their perception of the world
By sharing traumatic memories in a structured way with guidance from a professional, people
can gain greater insight into their emotions and learn how to manage them more effectively, thus reducing distress associated with traumatic memories. This leads to rebuilding trust, developing emotional resilience, and forming healthier connections with oneself and others.
In relational trauma, grief is necessary and allows us to process the loss of what we needed but didn’t receive — love, safety, or trust. Mourning the relationships that harmed us, as well as the versions of ourselves shaped by that pain, creates space for acceptance and growth.
Grief needs space, and our stories need a witness. Being seen and heard is an essential part of healing from relational trauma, death, and the inevitable transitions that shape our lives.