About Us


Right Choices Counseling is a solo practice run by Paul R. Shaffer. Paul is currently a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina. He obtained his Master’s degree in clinical psychology in 1988. At present, Paul chooses to specialize in working with adults – specifically relationship and couple’s issues (pre-marital and marital), men’s issues, and adjustment issues.

From 1985 to 2004, Paul worked in a variety of counseling settings doing:

  • Career & academic placement testing, as well as student counseling (Kentucky, 1985 – 1987)

  • Psychological assessments for social services, the courts, jails and hospitals as well as outpatient counseling services (Kentucky, 1987 – 1989)

  • Child & adolescent outpatient counseling (Georgia, 1989 – 1992), also serving as Chairman of the Quality Assurance Committee for DeKalb County’s board of Mental Health during part of that time

  • Private practice outpatient counseling with The Family Connection (North Carolina, 1992 – 1994)

  • Outpatient, in-home services and residential treatment through Specialized Youth Services (North Carolina, 1994 – 1998)

  • Intake clinician and intake liaison between Area Mental Health and Social Services (North Carolina, 1998 – 2004)

  • Part-time private practice (North Carolina, 1994-2004)

In 2004, Paul started his own private practice, Right Choices Counseling, and the following year (2005) he published his first book, “Conflict Resolution for Couples”, recently re-released as the 2020 “the R.I.V.E.R. Method” edition, or the 15th Anniversary Edition. Paul has also authored five other titles: “The Top 10 Marriage Essentials” (2014), “The Top 10 Dating Essentials” (2015), “Moving Past Personal Crises” (2018), “Conflict Resolution for Couples – ‘Just the Tools’ Edition” (2019), and “Marriage and the People Pleaser” (2021).