Shelby Opel, LCSW, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Certified Parental Responsibilities Evaluator (PRE) in the state of Colorado, dedicated to fostering resilience and well-being in individuals and families. With extensive experience in child welfare, trauma, anxiety, depression, and family dynamics, Shelby brings a compassionate, evidence-based approach to therapy and evaluation. She has dedicated her career to supporting clients through life’s challenges, drawing from her background in child protective services, crisis intervention, youth treatment, private practice, and family court evaluations.

Shelby holds a Master’s of Social Work with a focus on mental health and family systems from Walden University and a Bachelor’s of Social Work from Metropolitan University. Her professional experience spans roles as a crisis responder, behavioral lead in youth treatment centers, individual and family therapist, and Certified PRE, where she carefully evaluates family dynamics and makes recommendations in the best interests of children in family court cases.

As the founder of Gentle Giants Therapy and Consulting Center, PLLC, Shelby specializes in empowering clients to navigate trauma, manage anxiety and depression, and strengthen family connections. She is dedicated to evidence-based practices and tailors her therapeutic approaches to meet each client’s unique needs, fostering growth, healing, and positive change. Her practice is built on empathy, trust, and a genuine commitment to helping clients and families achieve their fullest potential.