- CBT methods
- Motivational interviewing
- Mindfulness skills
About Shirley
Shirley Southard is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina with 20 years of experience. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, anger, depression, ADHD, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting strains, and life changes.
Shirley draws on straightforward, practical approaches in sessions. She listens without judgment and helps people talk through immediate problems. Work often focuses on coping skills, behavior changes, and steps a person can use between meetings.
Her background includes work across mental health, developmental disability, and substance use settings. She has supported medication management and has experience with active military members and their families. That varied work informs how she plans goals and supports daily routines.
In the room she uses Client-Centered ideas to follow a person’s concerns, and she applies Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. Motivational interviewing is used when people want to change habits related to addiction or health. Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills are also used to help manage strong emotions.
Sessions often include teaching practical tools, setting small goals, and practicing new ways of coping. Shirley works with adults and children and has done substance abuse supervision in clinical settings. She accepts international clients and conducts therapy in English.
Before a first appointment she asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a session so they can start addressing what matters most to them.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following what matters most to the person. In an online setting this means sessions begin with the client’s priorities and the therapist reflects those concerns back to keep the conversation focused. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) centers on identifying thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and trying small behavior changes. Online sessions can use worksheets, thought records, and short practice tasks to work on anxiety and panic-related problems. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and mindfulness skills teach ways to tolerate strong feelings and reduce impulsive reactions. When used online these skills are practiced in-session and assigned as short exercises between meetings to build emotion regulation over time. Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will discuss needs, goals, and preferences and help choose which methods to try. This is a collaborative process and plans can be adjusted as progress is made. The original biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also supports practicing skills in everyday settings so new coping strategies can be tested between appointments.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
North Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, addictions, anger, depression, ADHD, relationship and family issues, trauma, grief, parenting and life changes.
How would she describe her therapy style?
She listens without judgment and focuses on practical steps. Sessions mix talking, skill practice, and goal setting.
How much experience does she bring?
She has about 20 years of experience in mental health, developmental disability, and substance use settings.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She is an LCMHC licensed in North Carolina and practices from that state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
Which session formats are available?
The original biography does not list session formats. Confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What do I need to do to begin?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.