LCMHC

Shirley Southard, LCMHC

Experience20 years
LocationNorth Carolina
Focus areasADHD, Stress and Anxiety, and Addictions
Therapy approachesClient-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Check the available next steps for working with Shirley online.

About Shirley

Shirley Southard is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) with 20 years of experience helping people cope with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addictions, trauma, grief, relationship and family concerns, and parenting challenges.

Background and approach

She emphasizes a warm, nonjudgmental presence and aims to create an environment where clients can explore difficult emotions and begin to make practical changes that support a more hopeful future.

Her background includes work across mental health, developmental disability, and substance abuse settings, and she has supported active military members and their families as well as clients managing medication. Shirley draws on evidence-informed methods such as cognitive behavioral techniques, motivational interviewing, dialectical behavior skills, and client-centered and mindfulness approaches to tailor treatment to each person’s needs.

She often integrates psychoeducation and practical skills coaching to help clients address mood, impulsivity, substance use, and life transitions. Shirley practices from North Carolina and offers services in English.

She accepts international clients and brings two decades of front-line experience to guiding people through change with empathy and clear, collaborative planning.

Approaches that guide online care

Shirley commonly integrates cognitive behavioral therapy and motivational interviewing into her online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be useful for anxiety, depression, ADHD-related challenges, and coping with panic or impulsivity. Motivational interviewing emphasizes exploring a person’s own reasons for change and strengthening motivation, which can be especially helpful for substance use, habit change, and ambivalence about goals.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Shirley partners with clients to assess their needs, preferences, and goals, and she adjusts methods over time so the work fits each person’s situation and pace rather than following a one-size-fits-all plan.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options make it easier to attend sessions from different locations, fit care into busy schedules, and continue work between meetings with brief messages or chat-based check-ins. Shirley uses these formats to combine skill-building, psychoeducation, and supportive coaching wherever clients are located.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Shirley support?

She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family problems, parenting challenges, and coping with life changes.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her style is warm and nonjudgmental, focusing on active listening and collaboration while using practical skills and psychoeducation to help clients make meaningful changes.

How much experience does she have?

She has about 20 years of experience working in mental health, developmental disability, and substance abuse settings, including supporting active military members and their families.

Where is Shirley licensed and located?

She is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC) practicing in North Carolina with the license number NC LCMHC 11871.

Can I work with her if I live outside the United States?

Yes, she accepts international clients and provides services in English for people living outside North Carolina.

What session formats are available?

Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different communication preferences.

How are fees and subscriptions handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin therapy?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety AddictionsAnger managementDepression ADHD

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuse GriefParenting issuesCoping with life changes

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityCommunication problemsControl issuesDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionForgivenessGuilt and shame Impulsivity Isolation / lonelinessJealousyVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

20+ years

Licensed

North Carolina

Languages

English

What Shirley can help with

Shirley Southard works with clients on stress and anxiety, addictions, anger management, depression, and ADHD.

Shirley works with mental health, developmentally disabled, and substance abuse populations.

Shirley works with Assisted Medication Management and active military members and their families.

How Shirley approaches therapy

Shirley's clinical approaches include Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Solution-Focused Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

Experience and training

Shirley is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor practicing in North Carolina, with 20 years of clinical experience.