Shirley Southard, LCMHC

Shirley Southard helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, anger, depression, and life transitions. She also supports those facing ADHD, grief, parenting challenges, relationship and family conflict, trauma and abuse, and aging and geriatric issues. Shirley brings calm and a listening presence to sessions and focuses on practical steps people can use day to day.

Shirley has worked in human services for about 20 years. Her background includes mental health, developmental disability, and substance abuse settings. She has experience with assisted medication management and with active military members and their families. She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor, LCMHC.

In sessions Shirley keeps things straightforward. She listens without judgment and helps people name what feels wrong. Together they map small, realistic changes that make a difference in daily life. Techniques come from cognitive behavioral methods, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness practices.

Shirley uses psychoeducation so people leave sessions with concrete skills to try. She has worked with clients facing divorce, single parenting, addictions, mood concerns, and grief. Her approach aims to build hope and toward clearer next steps.

People who choose Shirley can expect a warm, accepting space to talk through difficult decisions. She emphasizes collaboration and practical tools that fit each person's circumstances. The goal is clearer choices and more manageable days ahead.

How Shirley’s approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and acceptance. Shirley aims to create a warm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk through their concerns and decide on next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts and behaviors affect feelings and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns of thinking and acting. Dialectical Behavior Therapy, DBT, offers coping skills for intense emotions and helps with stress management and relationship challenges.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Shirley will work with each person to identify goals and preferences, then try methods that best match those needs. That plan can be adjusted as progress is made so sessions stay focused on what helps most.

Session formats were not specified in the biography, so please confirm the current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life because it reduces travel time and can allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also make it simpler to continue work on mood, anxiety, addiction, grief, or aging-related concerns from different locations. Shirley uses coaching, psychoeducation, and skill practice that translate well across distance, and she will help tailor sessions to what works for each person.