Shirley WilliamsLCSW, CSW

Shirley Williams is a Colorado-licensed social worker who focuses on supporting people through major life changes. She brings 35 years of experience to conversations about grief, anxiety, stress, relationship concerns, parenting strain, and pregnancy and childbirth related issues. Shirley aims to create a calm space where people can talk through what matters most to them and find practical steps forward.

She began with a BA in psychology and a Master of Social Work from Wayne State University. Early in her career she completed a two-year intensive family therapy program and later worked across settings including healthcare, hospice, schools, foster care, adoption services, and pregnancy support programs. These varied roles shaped a broad understanding of everyday challenges.

Shirley combines body-centered methods with trauma-focused approaches. She trained in massage therapy and has applied somatic ideas alongside trauma-focused work. Her practice also includes narrative techniques to help people reframe difficult stories and EMDR for processing traumatic memories.

She sometimes uses expressive tools such as sound, movement, clay, and other creative activities during sessions when they fit a person's goals. Shirley also uses flash technique methods as part of trauma resolution work and adapts interventions to individual needs.

People can expect a curious, down-to-earth clinician who draws on many kinds of experience. Conversations tend to be practical and paced to the person's comfort, with attention to both body responses and personal history.

How EMDR, Narrative and Trauma-Focused Work Translate to Online Care

EMDR is a method that helps people process distressing memories by using guided attention and bilateral stimulation to reduce emotional charge; it is often used for post-traumatic stress and other trauma reactions. Narrative therapy focuses on the stories people tell about themselves and helps rewrite those stories to reflect strengths and choices rather than only problems. Trauma-focused therapy concentrates on understanding how traumatic events affect thoughts, behaviors, and body responses and on building skills to lessen those impacts.

Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will talk with you about your goals, symptoms, and preferences and then suggest methods that fit. This may mean combining narrative work, EMDR-related techniques, somatic practices, or creative tools depending on what helps you most.

Confirm the specific session formats Shirley currently offers before booking. Many people find online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life - they can take a shorter check-in during a break, avoid travel time, or choose a session style that matches energy levels. Practical benefits include scheduling flexibility and the ability to continue work while managing caregiving or work commitments. The therapist will work with you to make sessions effective and to adapt techniques for remote use when appropriate.