Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin

Shelly "Sheldon" Lewin, LICSW, LCSW, brings more than three decades of experience supporting individuals and families through challenging seasons of life. Before opening a private therapy practice, he spent 30+ years in executive leadership roles within major hospitals and health systems, including Kaiser Permanente, Mount Sinai, and Northwestern Memorial. Across those settings, his work consistently centered on helping people thrive - whether that meant guiding others through difficult moments, strengthening relationships, or developing talent and resilience.

Raised in Chicago’s Rogers Park, Shelly was shaped by the neighborhood’s culture and by his father’s resilience as a Holocaust survivor. Those early lessons in empathy and endurance continue to inform how he shows up in the therapy room, with a steady focus on understanding both the story a client tells and the feelings underneath it.

He earned an MSW (Master of Social Work) from Loyola University and also holds an MBA from North Park University, along with an executive management certification from USC. His life and career have taken him across the U.S. and abroad, broadening his perspective and deepening his appreciation for how background and environment influence well-being. Now based in New Mexico, he has been married for 40+ years and enjoys traveling, hiking, reading, and exploring art.

In sessions, Shelly emphasizes a supportive, nonjudgmental space where clients can move at their own pace. The first meeting focuses on building a strong therapeutic relationship, answering questions about how therapy works, and beginning to clarify goals. He collaborates with clients to create a realistic plan, drawing from evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, and solution-focused strategies, while welcoming client input throughout. His guiding philosophy is grounded in positivity, confidence, and persistence - with a consistent message of not giving up on yourself.