- Client-focused
- Trauma-aware
- Strengths-based
About Andrea
Dr. Andrea Shirley is a California-licensed marriage and family therapist with 27 years of experience. She helps people facing stress, anxiety, relationship strains, grief, and life transitions. She approaches work with respect and calm, inviting clients to use their own strengths as the next step toward change.
She centers sessions on the client’s perspective. Dr. Shirley treats each person as the expert on their story and listens for what matters most. Sessions aim to make small, useful shifts that fit daily life rather than forcing large, abstract changes.
Her methods draw from client-centered therapy, narrative therapy, solution-focused work, and trauma-focused approaches. That mix lets her focus on what clients want now while also addressing events that continue to cause pain. She uses conversational techniques to clarify goals and find ways forward that feel doable.
Dr. Shirley has worked across a range of concerns including ADHD, compassion fatigue, intimacy-related issues, adoption and foster care questions, chronic illness and pain, and coping with natural or human-caused disaster. She also supports people dealing with body image, abandonment, caregiver stress, and career uncertainty.
People can expect practical conversation and collaborative goal-setting. Dr. Shirley supports parents and individuals navigating family conflict, blended-family questions, divorce and separation, and communication problems. Her style is steady, straightforward, and rooted in respect.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Client-centered therapy places the client’s experience first. In practice that means the therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and follows the client’s lead to set goals and pacing. This approach helps with stress, relationship worries, and self-esteem concerns.Narrative therapy looks at the stories people tell about themselves. Sessions examine those stories, search for alternative meanings, and find actions that better match the person they want to be. This can be useful for issues like identity, grief, and attachment concerns.
Solution-focused therapy zeroes in on practical steps and measurable goals. Sessions identify small, doable changes and track progress, which can help with anxiety, career decisions, and coping after trauma.
Choosing the right mix of approaches is part of the work. Dr. Shirley will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and comfort level. She adapts over time based on what helps most.
Confirming available session formats is recommended before booking, because the biography does not list specific options. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy schedule, shorten routine check-ins, or avoid travel time. It can also allow for flexible timing when life or work demands change, while keeping the focus on real-world steps and steady progress.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
27+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Dr. Shirley address?
She addresses stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family conflicts, intimacy concerns, sleeping and anger problems, career questions, ADHD, and coping with life changes including coping with natural or human-caused disaster.
What is her therapy style like?
Her approach is conversational and collaborative. She centers the client’s perspective and focuses on small, practical changes that fit daily life.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Dr. Shirley brings 27 years of professional work experience in mental health settings and clinical practice.
What credentials and region are listed?
She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, LMFT, licensed in California.
Which languages are supported and are international clients accepted?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking, as the biography does not specify formats and offerings can change.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.