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LCSW, CSW

Shirley Williams, LCSW, CSW

  • Experience35 years
  • LocationColorado
  • Focus areasADHD, Relationship, and Family
  • Therapy approachesEye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and Narrative Therapy
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About Shirley

Shirley Williams brings 35 years of clinical experience to people seeking support with stress, anxiety, trauma, relationship and intimacy concerns, and ADHD. She approaches care from a somatic and trauma-informed perspective that blends talk-based work with body-centered techniques, expressive arts, and movement when appropriate.

Background and approach

Shirley's practice reflects long-term training in family systems and a background in hospice, schools, foster care and adoption, and health care settings, which shaped her interest in grief, caregiver stress, chronic illness, and end-of-life concerns.

She holds a Master of Social Work and is licensed in Colorado as an LCSW and CSW, and she complements psychotherapy with training in massage and bodywork that informs her somatic approach.

As an EMDR therapist she has integrated techniques such as the Flash Technique into trauma-focused work, and she also uses Narrative Therapy to help clients reframe difficult experiences. Shirley offers a steady, curious presence and draws on expressive tools like sound, clay, dance, and movement to expand how clients process emotions and build coping skills.

Trauma-Informed and Somatic Approaches in Online Care

Shirley uses EMDR to support trauma processing, employing guided bilateral stimulation and structured protocols to help reduce the intensity of traumatic memories and related symptoms. Narrative Therapy is another key method she uses, helping clients examine and re-author the stories they tell about themselves to open new pathways for coping and meaning.

Finding the best therapeutic approach is collaborative rather than prescriptive. She works with each person to assess needs, goals, and preferences and adjusts methods over time, combining trauma-focused work, somatic techniques, and expressive arts as appropriate to the client’s pace and comfort.

Online sessions are offered via video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and access. These formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules, support continuity when in-person visits are difficult, and allow integration of some somatic and expressive activities adapted for virtual work.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with a broad range of issues including trauma and abuse, grief, anxiety, depression, stress, ADHD, relationship and intimacy issues, eating and sleeping difficulties, parenting and caregiver stress, chronic pain and illness, and career or life purpose questions.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach mixes trauma-focused methods with somatic and expressive techniques, combining EMDR and Narrative Therapy with body-centered practices and creative modalities to help clients process experiences.
What is her clinical background and experience?
Shirley has practiced for 35 years and trained in intensive family therapy early in her career. She has experience in hospice, schools, foster care and adoption, health care settings, and work with caregivers and people with disabilities.
Where is she licensed and how is she credentialed?
She is licensed in Colorado with credentials LCSW and CSW and holds the license identifier CO LCSW CSW.00991632.
Does she offer services in languages other than English or to international clients?
Services are provided in English, and she is not currently accepting international clients.
What session formats are available for working together?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and needs.
How much do sessions cost and what is the billing model?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy with her?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling a session according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseGriefADHD

Also works with

Stress, AnxietyIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAttachment issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationForgivenessGuilt and shameHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSelf-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationTraumatic brain injuryWomen's issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Narrative TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

35+ years

Licensed

Colorado

Languages

English

What Shirley can help with

Shirley Williams works with clients on relationship issues, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, grief, and ADHD.

How Shirley approaches therapy

Shirley's clinical approaches include Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Narrative Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy.

Experience and training

Shirley is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker practicing in Colorado, with 35 years of clinical experience.