Therapist profile
Shirley Souder, LMFT, LCSW
LMFT LCSW - Relationships and parenting
Continue with ShirleyAbout
- Attachment-based work
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Emotional forgiveness
About Shirley
Shirley Souder is an LMFT and LCSW licensed in Indiana with 43 years of clinical experience. She focuses on stress, anxiety, relationship concerns, family matters, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, addictions, grief, intimacy issues, parenting strain, anger, career transition, depression, and coping with life changes. Shirley also addresses ADHD, compassion fatigue, and coaching-related concerns. She works in English and accepts international clients.
She combines several practical therapy ideas to help people change behaviors that aren’t working. Her background includes training in counseling, psychology, and Christian counseling applications. That mix shapes how she asks direct questions about what a person is doing, what they want instead, and when they’re ready to change.
Shirley often guides people through real-life skills. She talks about job interviewing, nutrition suggestions, handling difficult people, and adjusting to new normal routines after loss. Emotional forgiveness skills are a frequent focus in her work. The approach is straightforward and action oriented, aimed at day-to-day problems at home and work.
Her methods draw on attachment ideas, client-centered conversations, cognitive-behavioral techniques, emotionally-focused work, and motivational interviewing. These approaches are used to look at relationships, communication problems, and long-standing behavior patterns. Shirley describes practical steps people can try between sessions to test change.
Clients can expect a practitioner who integrates spiritual questions when requested and who balances reflective talk with concrete tasks. Past work with teens, individuals, and people adjusting to widowhood informs her perspective on parenting and family-related strain. She asks clear questions and focuses on what to do next.
How sessions work
How her approaches translate to online sessions
Attachment-based work looks at how past relationships affect current connections. It helps people notice patterns in trust, closeness, and distance and apply healthier ways of relating to partners or family members. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and reflection. It gives people space to name what matters and to decide on next steps from their own values. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. It uses small experiments and practical exercises to change unhelpful habits and ease anxiety or mood concerns.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Shirley will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. She checks in about what helps and adjusts the plan as needed rather than committing to a single method from the start.
The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm the available online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and remove travel time. They also let people try exercises or conversation strategies in the context of daily life and report back in the next meeting. Discussing what will work logistically is part of the initial scheduling steps so sessions can align with work, parenting, and home routines.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
43+ years
Listed in
Indiana
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of family and parenting concerns does she address?
She works with parenting strain, blended family issues, communication problems, and the stress that comes from caregiving and changing family roles.
How would she describe her therapy style?
Her style mixes direct, practical questions with client-centered listening. She pairs conversational work with tasks to try between sessions.
What experience does she bring to complex problems?
She has 43 years of clinical experience and draws on psychology, counseling, and Christian counseling practices in her work.
Which credentials and location apply to her practice?
She holds LMFT and LCSW credentials and is licensed in Indiana.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are used for meetings?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Choose the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If anyone is in danger, use the crisis numbers.