The Restorative Therapy Project is committed to using telehealth technologies to bring quality mental health and educational services to hard to reach populations that may not normally have access to these services. We firmly believe in promoting accessibility and raising awareness about mental health matters in all communities regardless of socioeconomic status. Through utilizing telehealth technologies, we are committed to bringing high quality care to marginalized and rural populations across the United States.
We tailor therapy to the needs of each individual and use techniques like cognitive behavioral therapy, motivational interviewing, faith-based approach and solution-focused therapy. We use these formats to treat some of the most pressing mental health needs of this population that can include trauma, depression, and anxiety. Marginalized and rural populations often struggle with a high number of cases stemming from the very same marginalization they face, but they are often either unaware of mental health services or dissuaded from looking for help due to both social and economic barriers. Through actively going to these communities and raising awareness about the potential benefits of utilizing mental health services, the Restorative Therapy Project aims to reduce barriers of access and normalize seeking help for matters of mental health.
We guide our clients to apply the interventions learned in therapy, which can include meditation and relaxation techniques, anger management and conflict resolution skills into their daily lives in order to promote better self-esteem, healthier relationships and an increased quality of life.
Founder – Shelly Gutensohn
Shelly Gutensohn has been a long-time provider of mental health and special education services, specializing in work with correctional facilities, treatment centers, probation departments and other community-based sites focused on alternative learning and re-entry. She has a thorough understanding of what it takes to provide support necessary for the currently and previously incarcerated that have faced the criminal justice system’s toxicity and the lack of resources provided for successful reentry into work and society at large.
Through founding the Restorative Therapy Project, Shelly has officially extended the reach of her practice to other communities that have been traditionally underserved by mental health services such as residents of smaller rural towns and those in marginalized communities. A commonality between all the communities served by the Project is that they have been systematically overseen by appropriate, high-quality mental health services that specialize in programs tailored to the complex needs that stem from being part of a marginalized and underserved community.
