Shelby Illingworth

About Shelby

Support for the Journey of Foster Care & Adoption

Navigating the world of foster care and adoption is a journey of incredible heart, but it also comes with a unique set of challenges that can leave even the most dedicated parents feeling exhausted or uncertain. I’m here to tell you that you don’t have to walk this path alone.

With over 10 years of experience and a lifetime of passion for child welfare, I specialize in helping families move from a place of "surviving" to thriving. My approach is grounded in the belief that healing happens within relationships, and my goal is to give you the tools and confidence to be the anchor your child needs.

Where Professional Expertise Meets Personal Experience

My commitment to this work isn't just professional—it’s personal. My clinical roots began at The Settlement Home for Children, where I lived and worked as a house parent for teenage girls in foster care. That experience gave me an unfiltered look at the resilience of children in the system and the specialized care they require.

Since then, my life has been shaped by the foster care community. Over the last eight years, I have been a foster parent to seven children and have had the profound joy of adopting two of them. I know what it’s like to navigate the paperwork, the court dates, the transitions, and the complex "big feelings" that live inside an adoptive home. I bring that "in-the-trenches" perspective into every session.

How I Support You

I offer a warm, non-judgmental space to explore the realities of:

• Building Attachment: Creating felt safety and strengthening the bond between you and your child.

• Understanding Trauma: Decoding behaviors and responding with therapeutic, trauma-informed parenting.

• Parental Resilience: Caring for yourself so you can continue to show up fully for your family.

• The Adoption Story: Helping you and your child navigate the complexities of identity and birth family history.

Whether you are currently fostering, in the middle of the adoption process, or have been a "forever family" for years, I am here to support you in building a home filled with healing and connection.

I’m so glad you’re here. Let's start this conversation together.