- Years in practice
- 16
- Credentials
- LCSW
- Licensed in
- Connecticut
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
- Focus
- Anger management
- Focus
- Self esteem
About Sharlene
Sharlene Duplessis is a licensed clinical social worker with 16 years of experience. She practices from Connecticut and focuses on practical support for people facing trauma, mood concerns, and parenting stress. Her approach centers on meeting people where they are and helping them take small, steady steps forward.
Sharlene uses methods drawn from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy. She adapts those approaches to each person’s needs so sessions feel relevant and doable.
Background and approach
She aims to help clients build skills for managing anxiety, mood swings, anger, and stressful life changes. Parents often seek her out for help with family conflict, blended family issues, and the everyday strain of raising children. She also supports people dealing with relationship problems, grief after separation or divorce, career questions, and feelings of isolation or low self-worth.
She frames work around realistic goals and steady progress. Sessions commonly involve learning coping skills, practicing new ways of communicating, and setting short-term goals. Sharlene emphasizes noticing small gains and building on them over time.
She encourages a growth mindset and helps clients recognize their perseverance. Her background includes many years in outpatient settings working with trauma and related concerns. She speaks English and accepts international clients.
Sharlene’s style is practical, patient, and focused on what will help now.
What Sharlene works with
Everything Sharlene lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Sharlene helps people with.
- Trauma and abuse
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Parenting issues
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- ADHD
- Blended family issues
- Communication problems
- Divorce and separation
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Mood disorders
- Post-traumatic stress
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Sharlene lists
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that guide online sessions
Sharlene commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people spot and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors. CBT often focuses on concrete exercises and homework to reduce anxiety, depression, and mood symptoms.She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better communication. DBT skills can be useful for managing intense emotions, anger, and relationship stress.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is another approach she uses for trauma work; it aims to reduce the emotional impact of painful memories and make them easier to manage in daily life.
Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. From there she tailors a plan and checks in regularly to adjust techniques as progress is made.
Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for deeper conversations and skill work, phone sessions are helpful when bandwidth or camera use is limited, and messaging lets people check in between sessions or use shorter exchanges during a busy day. These options make it easier to fit therapy into parenting schedules and varied routines.
Questions people ask about Sharlene
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She helps people with trauma and abuse, depression, bipolar disorder, anxiety, anger, stress, and parenting-related issues. Additional areas include ADHD, relationship and family problems, self-esteem, and coping with life changes.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is trauma-centered and client-focused, using practical skills and short-term goals. Sessions mix coaching, skill practice, and reflection to help people manage symptoms and make changes.
How much experience does she have?
She has 16 years of experience working in clinical social work, mainly in outpatient settings supporting people with trauma and related concerns.
Where is she based and what are her credentials?
She is based in Connecticut and holds the credential LCSW, Clinical Social Worker, as documented in her profile.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and she also accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with therapy?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to therapist availability.
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