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LCSW

Shirley Ikenze, LCSW

  • Experience26 years
  • LocationCalifornia
  • Focus areasADHD, Trauma and abuse, and Grief
  • Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Mindfulness Therapy
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About Shirley

Shirley Ikenze is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in California who draws on 26 years of practice to support people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, and major life transitions.

Background and approach

She centers her work on the belief that each person is the expert on their own story and brings strengths to the healing process. Her background includes coaching-style support as well as interventions for sleep problems, parenting concerns, anger, self-esteem, career struggles, and mood-related issues such as depression.

In sessions she blends client-centered listening with evidence-informed methods like mindfulness, narrative exploration, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused strategies to help clients identify goals and practical next steps. Shirley also has experience with issues tied to family dynamics, adoption and foster care, abandonment, caregiving and end-of-life concerns, cancer-related stress, codependency, and relationship transitions including separation and divorce.

She works in English and practices in California as an LCSW, offering an approach that is respectful, strengths-based, and oriented toward collaborative change.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Support

Shirley integrates client-centered therapy with mindfulness practices to create a supportive online environment. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathic listening and collaboration so clients lead the pace and focus of work, which is helpful for people seeking to clarify values, process difficult experiences, or build self-trust. Mindfulness therapy teaches present-focused awareness and practical grounding skills that can reduce reactivity and support coping with stress, anxiety, sleep disruptions, and trauma-related symptoms.

She also uses motivational interviewing techniques to help clients identify personal motivation for change and to set realistic, achievable steps toward goals. The therapist treats approach selection as a collaborative process, adapting methods to fit each person's needs, preferences, and priorities rather than applying a single method to every situation.

Online sessions are offered by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These formats make it easier to schedule care around work or family commitments, continue support during life transitions, and maintain momentum between meetings with brief asynchronous messaging when appropriate.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Shirley commonly address?
Her practice focuses on trauma and abuse, grief, stress and anxiety, coping with life changes, ADHD, parenting and family issues, sleep problems, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, and depression, among other topics.
What therapeutic style can I expect in sessions?
Sessions use a client-centered approach with elements of mindfulness, motivational interviewing, narrative work, and solution-focused techniques to emphasize strengths and practical steps toward goals.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
Shirley brings 26 years of professional experience working with a wide range of emotional and life challenges.
Where is Shirley licensed and practicing?
She is licensed in California as an LCSW with license number CA LCSW 25539 and maintains a practice based in that state.
Does she work with clients in other languages or internationally?
Therapy is provided in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available for online work?
Clients can meet through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their preferences and scheduling.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are needed to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a brief matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Trauma and abuseGriefCoping with life changesCoachingADHD

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyFamily conflictsSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepression

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAging and geriatric issuesBlended family issuesCancerCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMulticultural concernsPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused Therapy

Experience

26+ years

Licensed

California

Languages

English

What Shirley can help with

Shirley Ikenze works with clients on trauma and abuse, grief, coping with life changes, coaching, and ADHD.

How Shirley approaches therapy

Shirley's clinical approaches include Client-Centered Therapy, Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy.

Experience and training

Shirley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in California.