- Guilt and shame
- Parenting transitions
- CBT and mindfulness
About Shirley
Shirley Barnes is a Washington LMHC with 18 years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and the challenges of parenting and life changes. Shirley also helps people who carry guilt and shame and those dealing with attachment or relationship struggles.
She takes a person-centered approach and focuses on practical skills. Sessions often involve talking through current struggles, learning ways to manage strong feelings, and trying small changes that can make daily life easier. She pays attention to how past experiences shape present reactions without rushing conclusions.
Shirley draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice and shift unhelpful thinking patterns. She uses mindfulness practices to help people tolerate difficult emotions in the moment. Solution-focused methods are used when clients want concrete steps and quick experiments to test what helps.
Her work includes supporting women through pregnancy, childbirth, and parenting transitions, and addressing caregiver stress. She also supports people coping with abandonment, body image concerns, impulsivity, panic, and post-traumatic stress. Conversations cover both coping strategies and communication skills that affect relationships.
Shirley emphasizes collaboration in each session. She helps clients set clear, manageable goals and checks progress together. Her practice is rooted in steady, consistent support aimed at helping people live with less overwhelm and more clarity.
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Shirley commonly uses Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Mindfulness Therapy in her work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to what matters most to the person, helping them find their own sense of direction. CBT looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and teaches practical ways to test and change unhelpful thinking patterns. Mindfulness Therapy adds moment-to-moment awareness exercises to help tolerate strong emotions and reduce reactivity.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the early work together. Shirley will discuss goals, preferences, and what tends to help, and then try approaches that fit those aims. She treats this as a collaborative process and adjusts as progress or priorities change.
The original biography does not list which session formats she uses, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Many people find video or phone sessions help maintain continuity of care when life is hectic, while still allowing work on thought patterns, mindfulness practice, and concrete behavior changes.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Washington
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, parenting challenges, and life changes. Additional focus areas include guilt and shame, attachment concerns, body image, and panic.
How would she approach feelings of guilt or shame?
She uses a client-centered style and practical methods like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and mindfulness to name feelings, examine thoughts, and try small behavioral changes. The process is gradual and collaborative.
What is her background and experience?
She is a Washington LMHC with 18 years of experience supporting adults through anxiety, trauma, parenting transitions, and mood concerns.
Where is she licensed and based?
She is licensed as an LMHC in Washington and practices with that credential in that state.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats does she provide?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Confirm current session options before booking to know whether sessions are in person, video, or phone.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Costs vary with location and sessions are billed through 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.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger or thinking about harming yourself, use the crisis numbers.