Shelby Ortega, Ph.D.

Dr. Shelby Ortega is a clinical psychologist serving the North Shore and Metro Boston areas via Cambridge and Salem office locations.

My approach is one characterized by warmth, humor, and the welcoming of diverse experiences, identities, and perspectives. I believe in tailoring the treatment to the unique needs of my clients and providing a safe space that is equally supportive and challenging.

I offer individual psychotherapy for adolescents and adults, as well as couples therapy, clinical supervision, and consultation services.

I enjoy working with people from all walks of life, and make every effort to help those I work with feel welcomed, engaged, supported, and respected.

I work to provide a safe therapeutic frame that is inclusive of social and cultural context, and therefore, welcome discussions of issues related to oppression, privilege, and of course, intersectionality of complex identity statuses.

My private practice work is enriched by my academic scholarship and teaching experiences. I believe this work is an asset to my role as a practitioner and I work to extend this benefit to the patients I serve.

My specific interests and areas of expertise include the following:

Anxiety, Depression and Mood Disorders
Relationship and Intimacy Difficulties
Identity Exploration
Recovery from Trauma and Loss

I have extensive training in multicultural mental health, identity development, adult attachment relationships and intimacy, and have also completed two fellowships in psychodynamic psychotherapy at Harvard Medical School.

Presently, I serve as a Teaching Associate in the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, a Psychological and Educational Consultant with Jernigan & Associates, LLC, and as an Advisory Board Member for the Psychology Department at Regis College.