- Client-centered care
- Practical tools
- Faith-informed option
About Shirley
Shirley Semel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) based in California. She focuses on helping people move past things that keep them stuck and find more joy and contentment in daily life. Shirley works with a wide range of concerns, including stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, grief, relationship and family problems, and coping with life changes.
Shirley draws on client-centered work to create a compassionate, nonjudgmental space where people can speak freely about what matters to them. She also uses cognitive behavioral strategies to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. Psychodynamic ideas help uncover long-standing patterns that affect relationships and choices. Solution-focused techniques are used to find practical steps and small changes that build momentum.
Her experience includes facilitating groups for domestic violence, anger management, and addiction relapse prevention, and supporting families with mentally ill loved ones. Shirley has eight years of clinical experience and practices with an emphasis on recognizing personal strengths and values. She also provides Christian counseling for those who request faith-informed support.
In sessions Shirley aims to build trust and offer direct, caring feedback. She helps people explore what gives them meaning and identify concrete changes to try between meetings. The work often includes talking through challenges, practicing new ways of relating, and setting realistic goals.
People seeking help for blended family stress, caregiver strain, chronic illness impact, codependency, communication problems, or coping with natural or human-caused disaster may find her approach relevant. Shirley encourages clients to take the next step when they feel ready.
How Shirley’s Approaches Guide Online Work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening closely and reflecting back what matters to you. That approach helps people feel heard and decide what to work on first. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at thoughts and behaviors and uses specific exercises to test new ways of thinking and acting; it can help with anxiety, depression, and habits related to addictions or sleep. Psychodynamic work pays attention to patterns that repeat across relationships and life choices and can help when people want to understand why they react a certain way.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Shirley will talk with each person about goals, needs, and preferences and suggest which methods to try. She treats the choice as collaborative and adjusts approaches as progress is made.
Confirm current session options before booking so you know how meetings are arranged. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It can also make participation possible when mobility or physical health is a concern. Shirley focuses on practical exercises, goal setting, and real-world steps that translate to everyday routines, whether sessions are held remotely or in another agreed format.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns can Shirley help with?
She works with issues such as stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family problems, parenting, eating and sleeping concerns, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is warm and direct, with a focus on client-centered listening, cognitive behavioral techniques to change thought and behavior patterns, psychodynamic exploration of long-term patterns, and solution-focused steps for immediate change.
What relevant experience does she bring?
She has eight years of clinical experience and has facilitated groups for domestic violence, anger management, and addiction relapse prevention, plus work supporting families with mentally ill loved ones.
What credentials and location apply?
She holds the LMFT credential - California Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist - and practices in California.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Are international clients accepted?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How much do sessions cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.