Shelley G Pier

Education & Experience

I graduated with a Masters in Social Work in 2004 from the University of Tennessee Knoxville. I focused on clinical therapy with a specialization in sexual assault and abuse survivors. Since then I have worked in various settings: inpatient/outpatient mental health, veterinary social work, supervising visitation between noncustodial parents and their children, substance abuse, Alzheimer’s Association, and rape crisis centers. I spent nine years at Northwest Center Against Sexual Assault (Northwest CASA) where I was a medical/legal advocate, volunteer coordinator, Staff Therapist, Services Manager for the CARE Center (Northwest CASA’s McHenry satellite), supervisor for graduate and undergraduate interns, professional educator in the community, and grant writer. I also coordinated with Oakton Community College to develop and teach a class called Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention. While at Northwest CASA, I started an Animal Assisted Therapy program with my dog, Cassie. Most recently I was co-owner of Inner Path Counseling and Wellness. Currently I am Certified in EMDR and I own my own practice, New Path Therapy and Consulting. I specialize in providing treatment to trauma survivors, specifically sexual assault and abuse survivors, as well as those experiencing grief and members of the LGBT+ population. I am also an Expert Witness in the courts regarding cases on sexual assault/abuse.