Sheet 1
- Client-centered approach
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Motivational interviewing
About Shirley
Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) in North Carolina with 20 years of experience, Shirley Southard helps people facing stress, anxiety, addictions, anger, depression, ADHD, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting, and coping with life changes. She also works with aging and geriatric concerns, communication and control problems, domestic violence, substance use, and other related difficulties. Shirley practices using approaches listed in her background and focuses on practical ways to move forward.
Shirley offers straightforward talk therapy grounded in client-centered principles. She listens without judgment and encourages people to identify goals and small steps toward them. She also uses cognitive behavioral tools to spot unhelpful thinking and DBT strategies for managing intense emotions.
Motivational interviewing is part of her work when people are weighing change, especially around substance use. She draws on psychoeducation to explain symptoms and coping options so people can make informed decisions. Sessions aim to be practical and action-focused when that fits the person’s goals.
Her experience includes mental health, developmental disability, and substance abuse settings, plus work with assisted medication management and active military members and their families. She has supported people through divorce, single parenting, grief, mood struggles, and related challenges. Shirley’s practice emphasizes clear, conversational guidance and tangible skills.
Shirley holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and the credential LCMHC. Clients should confirm current session formats before booking and can expect collaborative, goal-oriented work that pairs listening with concrete strategies.
Sheet 2
How these approaches are used in online sessions
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and working from the person’s priorities. In online work this means sessions start by identifying what matters most and checking how proposed steps fit the client’s life. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at links between thoughts, feelings, and behavior. Online CBT often involves short exercises, thought records, and action steps people can use between sessions to test changes. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness. In virtual sessions Shirley may teach specific DBT skills and practice them together with the client.Choosing the right approach is treated as a collaborative process. Shirley will talk with the client about goals, try ideas from different methods, and adjust plans based on what helps. The aim is to find practical strategies that fit the person’s lifestyle and priorities.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals often adapt exercises and homework for remote sessions so people can practice skills between meetings without changing the core therapeutic work.
Sheet 3
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
North Carolina
Languages
English
Sheet 4
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she address?
Shirley works with stress, anxiety, addictions, anger, depression, ADHD, relationship and family issues, trauma and abuse, grief, parenting challenges, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a client-centered style with practical tools. Sessions combine listening, psychoeducation, and skills from CBT and DBT as needed.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years of experience in human services, including mental health, developmental disability, and substance abuse work.
What are her credentials and region?
She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling and is an NC LCMHC practicing in North Carolina.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How does payment work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the urgent help numbers.