Dr. Freda Shipman, LCSW

Dr. Freda Shipman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 25 years of experience. She uses practical methods to help people manage stress, anxiety, grief, relationship strain, parenting pressures, and life transitions.

Her work centers on clear, goal-oriented approaches that people can use between sessions. She draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors, and she uses client-centered conversation to follow what matters most to each person.

Dr. Shipman has a long history supporting people facing serious health concerns, caregiving burdens, and end-of-life planning. She also helps with career questions, financial stress, and the emotional fallout from divorce or family conflict. Her background includes work with aging and geriatric issues, autism and intellectual disability, and cancer-related challenges.

In sessions she focuses on practical steps and skills. That can mean building coping strategies, practicing communication, setting boundaries, or making small changes that add up over time. Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused techniques help when people are ready to set short-term goals and take action.

She aims to make therapy collaborative and respectful. People can expect straightforward guidance, time to talk through concerns, and a plan that fits their goals and daily life.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Dr. Shipman commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy in her work. CBT focuses on identifying thought patterns and trying small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, stress, or unhelpful reactions. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and following the client’s priorities so sessions feel relevant to what matters now.

She also draws on Motivational Interviewing to help people clarify goals and find internal motivation for change. That approach is useful when someone wants to make a concrete shift, such as adjusting work-life balance or beginning caregiving plans. Together these methods allow therapy to be tailored step by step based on the client’s goals and pace.

Online formats make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation for skill practice and feedback. Phone sessions work well when video is not possible or bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging suit shorter check-ins, brief coaching, or ongoing support between sessions. These options offer flexibility, so the therapist and client can choose what best supports progress.