- Stress and anxiety
- Relationship issues
- LGBTQ concerns
About Andrea
Dr. Andrea Shirley is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT) with 27 years of clinical experience. She works with people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, LGBTQ concerns, relationship and family issues, and problems like sleep disturbance, anger, and grief. Dr. Shirley also supports people facing career changes, caregiving strain, and trauma or abuse.
She begins by listening to each person's story and noticing strengths they already have. Sessions focus on practical steps and small experiments that can reduce distress. She uses conversational work to help people reframe difficult experiences and to find clearer ways to communicate in relationships.
Dr. Shirley draws on client-centered methods that prioritize the person's perspective and goals. She integrates narrative approaches to look at how life stories shape current problems. Solution-focused tactics are used to identify short-term changes that make a day feel better.
When trauma or abuse is present, she includes trauma-focused work aimed at reducing intense reactions and building coping skills. This often involves pacing the work, grounding techniques, and reviewing safety and supports outside sessions.
Her practice also addresses less obvious struggles such as compassion fatigue, body image concerns, and challenges linked to adoption, aging, chronic illness, or caregiving. People often come for help with commitment or communication problems and leave with clearer next steps for managing conflict and stress.
To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session where treatment priorities are set together.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening to the person's views and priorities and helping them set their own goals. Online sessions using this approach often start by identifying what matters most and pacing check-ins to fit daily life.Narrative therapy looks at the stories people tell about themselves and their relationships. In remote sessions this can mean talking through specific events, noticing patterns, and trying alternative ways of describing problems to reduce their power.
Solution-focused work emphasizes small, practical steps that can be tried between sessions. This approach is useful for online care because it focuses on brief, measurable actions and short-term progress that can be reviewed each week.
Finding the right mix of methods is part of the process. The therapist will work collaboratively to decide which approaches fit a person's goals, needs, and preferences, and adjustments are made as work progresses.
Session logistics are not specified in the biography, so confirm available online formats before booking. Many people find online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a workday, reduce travel time, or allow brief check-ins when needed. Online work can also make it simpler to try exercises between sessions and track changes over time.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
27+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family difficulties, grief, trauma and related concerns such as sleep problems, anger, and career transitions.
What is her general approach in therapy?
Her work is conversational and practical, using client-centered listening, narrative reframing, and solution-focused steps to identify manageable changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 27 years of professional experience working with a wide range of life and relational issues.
What are her credentials and practice location?
She is an LMFT licensed in California and provides services from that state.
Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as session formats are not listed in the biography.
How does payment work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to set priorities together.