Shelley C. Taylor, Ph.D., RP

Not That Dr. Shelley Taylor…

Let’s clear something up right off the hop: I am Shelley Taylor, with a PhD in psychology — I’m just not that Dr. Shelley Taylor. You know—the one who writes all the academic papers and has an impressive pile of citations? She’s Shelley E. Taylor. I’m Shelley C. Taylor. It’s confusing, I know. I’ve published a couple of papers, but nothing compared to Shelley E. Honestly, even Academia can’t keep us straight—I’ve received more than a few misdirected nods from the scholarly world.

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, hi! I’m Shelley Taylor, and I live in the beautiful Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. I’m a Registered Psychotherapist with a Ph.D. in Psychology, and I’ve been supporting people through the ups and downs of life for over a decade.

I work with adults navigating challenges like ADHD, anxiety, depression, grief, and the tricky terrain of relationships with narcissistic personalities. I also have a background in rehabilitation psychology, helping people adjust to life after acquired brain injuries. My approach is grounded in empathy, experience, and a solid understanding that no two people’s paths look quite the same.

For the curious: I earned my Ph.D. from Northcentral University in San Diego (now renamed to the National University), my Master’s from Carleton University in Ottawa, and my Honours B.A. from Nipissing University in North Bay.

Before psychology took centre stage in my life, I wandered a bit—through the sparkling world of gemology (yes, I studied at the Gemological Institute of America in California and worked as a gemmologist for 15 years), then into computer applications, admin work, and even cellular sales. That winding road taught me more about life, people, and resilience than any textbook ever could.

So, while I may not be the Shelley Taylor filling psychology journals, I bring something equally valuable to the table: a deep respect for real-life experience, a touch of humour, and a whole lot of heart.

For those of you who are interested, here is a list of my few papers :-)

Taylor, S. & Stange, K. (2008). “Relationship of Personal Cognitive Schemas to the Labelling of a Profound Emotional Experience as Religious-Mystical or Aesthetic”. Empirical Studies of the Arts, 26(1), 35-47.

Taylor, S. & Davis, C. (2010). “Exploring God Concepts among Christian, Muslim and New Age Participants”. Unpublished manuscript, Carleton University, Ottawa, On.

Taylor, S. C. (2018). “How to Win My Ex Back?” A Qualitative Exploration of Online Forums of Persistent. ProQuest Dissertations & Theses Global.