Shirley Colee, LMHC

Shirley Colee is a licensed mental health counselor in Florida with 20 years of experience. She focuses on helping people who are dealing with relationship strain, family tension, trauma, grief, depression, anxiety, and addictive behaviors. Shirley uses a respectful, compassionate style and aims to make the first steps feel manageable for someone who is nervous or unsure.

She adapts conversations and plans to each person's needs. That can mean looking at thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going, practicing new ways to communicate, or using skills to manage intense emotions. Shirley draws from cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice patterns and try practical changes.

She also offers client-centered support that emphasizes listening and collaboration. For people whose trauma keeps interrupting daily life, she can use EMDR techniques to address painful memories. DBT skills are offered when emotion regulation and impulsivity are concerns.

Shirley has worked with many issues related to family and caregiving, including aging and geriatric concerns, caregiver stress, and family of origin problems. She helps people facing life transitions such as divorce, career shifts, and coping after loss.

Sessions are conducted in English and are available to international clients. The therapist uses a mix of formats to fit different needs, and she will work with each person to shape a plan that fits their goals and situation.

How therapy approaches translate online

Shirley commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and client-centered therapy in online work. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thought and behavior patterns and trying concrete changes to reduce symptoms like anxiety, depression, or problem behaviors. Client-centered therapy centers on empathetic listening and collaboration so goals and pacing come from the person in treatment.

She also draws on dialectical behavior therapy when emotion regulation and impulsivity are central issues. DBT offers practical skills for managing strong emotions, improving relationships, and reducing risky behaviors. Together these approaches give both short-term tools and space to make meaning of difficult experiences.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Shirley will talk with each person about goals and preferences and will adapt methods until the fit feels right. That work is shared and flexible rather than fixed in advance.

Online sessions include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video works well for deeper conversations and skill practice. Phone can be a simpler check-in when bandwidth is low. Chat and messaging are useful for brief updates, between-session support, or when someone prefers typing. These options make therapy easier to fit around work, family, and travel schedules.