- Practical behavior steps
- Faith-based support
- Emotional forgiveness
About Shirley
Shirley Souder, LMFT, LCSW, blends practical therapy with faith-informed perspectives to help people manage stress, anxiety, grief, relationship strain, and life changes. She draws on decades of clinical work to guide straightforward problem solving and emotional healing. Her style is direct and conversational, aimed at giving clear steps people can try between sessions.
With 43 years of experience, Shirley combines Attachment-Based and Client-Centered ideas with elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Motivational Interviewing. Sessions focus on understanding current patterns, identifying achievable changes, and practicing new responses. She also incorporates Christian Counseling principles when clients prefer faith-based discussion and application.
People meet practical goals in areas such as coping with trauma, addiction concerns, parenting stress, compassion fatigue, and coping with natural or human-caused disaster. She pays attention to behavior, communication habits, and emotional forgiveness skills to reduce ongoing conflict and distress. Work can include simple strategies for job interviews, nutrition habits, and everyday routines.
Her approach is collaborative. Shirley helps clients name realistic steps, set small goals, and review progress. Sessions often include skill practice, reflection, and planning for real-world challenges.
Shirley holds a master’s degree in psychology and licenses as a marriage and family therapist (LMFT) and a clinical social worker (LCSW) in Indiana. She offers sessions in English and accepts international clients; confirm current session options before booking.
How her approaches guide online therapy choices
Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early and current relationships shape emotion and trust. It helps people understand patterns in close relationships and practice new ways of connecting and responding. Client-Centered Therapy centers the person’s own goals and experience, offering a supportive space where the therapist reflects and helps the client find their own solutions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and teaches practical strategies to change them, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, and stress management.Choosing the right approach is part of working together. Shirley uses conversation and brief assessments to figure out which methods fit a person’s needs and goals. She will collaborate with clients to try techniques, review what helps, and adjust the plan as work continues.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow focused check-ins during breaks or between obligations. It also supports continuing work on emotion regulation, forgiveness skills, and practical behavior changes without reorganizing an entire day.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
43+ years
Credentials
Indiana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does Shirley address?
She helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy issues, addiction, parenting challenges, and coping with life changes. Her additional focus areas include communication problems, caregiver stress, body image, and coping with natural or human-caused disaster.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her style is practical and conversational, combining Attachment-Based and Client-Centered ideas with Cognitive Behavioral techniques and Motivational Interviewing. She emphasizes clear steps, goal setting, and emotional forgiveness skills.
What is her professional background?
She has 43 years of clinical experience and a master’s degree in psychology. Her work integrates approaches from reality-focused therapy and, when appropriate, Christian Counseling practices.
Where is Shirley licensed and located?
She holds licenses as an LMFT and an LCSW in Indiana. Sessions are offered from that regional base; confirm specific scheduling and format details before booking.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English, and she does accept international clients; check session logistics when arranging appointments.
What session formats are available?
The biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm the current session options with the matching process before scheduling.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. Confirm fees and billing details during the matching and scheduling steps.
How do I begin working with Shirley?
Select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability. The matching step helps confirm fit and logistics.