Shirley Butcher, LPCC

Shirley Butcher is a licensed professional clinical counselor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, and the effects of trauma and abuse. She works with clients who identify as LGBT and supports a range of concerns tied to relationships and self-image. Her approach is straightforward and focused on practical steps people can use day to day.

Shirley combines cognitive behavioral techniques with attachment-focused work to address how thoughts and early relationships shape current feelings. She also uses client-centered methods to keep sessions grounded in each person's priorities. Dialectical skills and EMDR are available when trauma and intense emotions need targeted attention.

Sessions are aimed at clear goals. Shirley helps clients spot unhelpful thinking, practice new behaviors, and rebuild a sense of control after difficult experiences. Conversations are direct but warm, with an emphasis on skills people can apply between sessions.

Her background includes six years working in behavioral healthcare and substance use counseling, which informs a practical understanding of recovery and relapse triggers. She draws on that experience when supporting people with addictions and co-occurring issues.

Shirley practices in Minnesota as an LPCC - licensed professional clinical counselor. She offers care in English and provides online formats such as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. The focus is on helping people reduce distress and move toward clearer, more manageable days.

How Shirley’s approaches translate to online therapy

Shirley uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help people notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and many everyday problems because it focuses on specific strategies you can practice between sessions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships affect current patterns - it helps when trust, closeness, or fear of abandonment influence how a person relates to others.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Shirley will work with each person to choose or combine methods that match their goals and comfort level. That means testing what helps most and adjusting the plan as needed so progress feels real and manageable.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make therapy flexible for different routines. Video sessions let you use visual cues and more in-depth conversation. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when you prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and messaging work well for quick check-ins, skill practice, or shorter updates between longer sessions. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into busy lives while keeping the focus on practical, goal-driven work.