We had the good fortune of connecting with Shelby Castile and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Shelby, can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Thanks for having me back, I’ve been a big fan of VoyageLA since our initial interview a few years ago.

I am a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, with a private practice based in Newport Beach. For over 20 years, I have worked with individuals and couples in Orange County, CA, to heal, restore and rejuvenate relationships both with one another, and with themselves. At the root of everything I do is a belief that asking for help can be the greatest act of love, for both yourself, and those you care about. I am honored to hold space for people, and help them, holistically, live their very best lives. In addition to my practice, I am the founder of Orange County Shrinks, a mental health networking group that believes that the best way to uplift professionals in the field is to provide space for connection, collaboration, and community. This all started as a passion project to create an online space for mental health professionals in Orange County to connect and find referrals, however it has grown into so much more.

What is the most important factor behind your success?
Over the years, I’d say the most important factor to my success has been learning the importance of trusting others. In 2020, the Coronavirus pandemic brought a new need for the mental health community to come together in unprecedented ways, and I realized that my visions for where OC Shrinks could grow were hampered by the lack of time I had to commit. I quickly learned that I needed help in order to best serve the mental health community. This is when I decided to team up with two colleagues Caitlin McDonald and Amber Irwin, whom I had worked with in my private practice for the past 8 years.  I saw their expertise in business and marketing as being a prime component to the growth of OC Shrinks.  Since partnering up, they have helped immensely in refining my vision for the OC Shrinks.  Success is not a stand-alone thing, it comes from building relationships and trusting others. It’s my belief that together we can grow and reach new goals we couldn’t do on our own.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
One of my favorite little gems is exploring Balboa Island here in Newport Beach. I would also drive down the coast through Corona Del Mar, stopping along the way at one of the many Crystal Cove beaches. I am in constant awe of the beauty southern California has to offer and feel truly blessed to live in a place where we can be outdoors nearly all year long. We’d eventually end up at ‘Nick’s’ in Laguna Beach – which is my go-to spot for all out of town visitors!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’ve been fortunate to have many people along the way who’ve encouraged, supported and advised along the way.  I’d like to dedicate this shout out to Caitlin and Amber, for jumping in and helping navigate the business side of OC Shrinks.  Since partnering up, these two dedicated women have become an enormous asset to the OC Shrinks team, working to create more online opportunities and resources for our mental health community.

Website: https://www.shelbycastile.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shelbycastile/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelbycastilemft/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/shelbycastile
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shelbymegancastile/
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/shelby-castile-ma-lmft-newport-beach
Other: https://www.orangecountyshrinks.com

Image Credits
photo credit: Michelle Gardella
photo credit: Kia Shakoori

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.