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Shirley Butler, LCSW

Based in Montana Online sessions

Compassionate social worker focused on practical parenting support

Book with Shirley
Years in practice
23
Credentials
LCSW
Licensed in
Montana
Languages
English
Focus
Stress, Anxiety
Focus
Trauma and abuse
Focus
Self esteem
About

About Shirley

Shirley Butler is a licensed clinical social worker with 23 years of experience in mental health. She practices from Montana and runs a independent practice she opened in 2013. Shirley has worked in community mental health and Tribal Behavioral Health, and she brings that background into her current work.

She meets people where they are and focuses on building trust in the first sessions. Shirley prefers to hear each person’s story and then co-create a treatment plan that fits their specific needs.

Background and approach

She emphasizes collaboration and clear steps rather than one-size-fits-all solutions. Shirley uses a range of approaches to support people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, and life changes. She also addresses relationship concerns, parenting challenges, career stress, and longer-term issues like bipolar disorder and post-traumatic stress.

Additional focuses include communication problems, abandonment, codependency, commitment issues, forgiveness, self-love, and women’s issues. Her clinical background includes Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy. Shirley has experience using Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, which some people find helpful after traumatic experiences.

She aims for straightforward sessions that combine listening with practical tools. Sessions tend to be conversational and goal-oriented, with skills or strategies introduced when they match a person’s goals. Shirley helps people sort through what matters most and plan steps they can try between sessions.

Focus areas and approaches

What Shirley works with

Everything Shirley lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Shirley helps people with.

Approaches Shirley lists

Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.

Online support

How Shirley’s approaches translate to online work

Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early connections shape current relationships and emotional responses. Online sessions with this focus often include talking through relationship patterns and practicing new ways to connect and respond to others. Client-Centered Therapy centers on the person’s own goals and perspective, with the therapist offering nonjudgmental support and reflection. In an online setting this can feel like a steady, listening presence while the client leads the topics.

Shirley will help clients choose the approach that fits their needs. She talks with each person about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t worked before. Together they decide whether to focus on patterns in relationships, practical skills, emotional regulation, or a mix of strategies.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people work face to face from different locations. Phone sessions remove the need for a camera and can be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging are useful for shorter check-ins, quick skill practice, or when someone prefers typing to talking. These options make it simpler to fit sessions into work, childcare, or travel schedules while still working with licensed professionals and therapists to make meaningful progress.
Questions

Questions people ask about Shirley

What concerns does Shirley commonly help with?

She works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, and coping with life changes. She also helps with relationship and parenting concerns, career stress, and bipolar disorder.

How would you describe her therapy style?

Shirley focuses on listening first and building trust. She then collaborates to create a practical plan with steps and skills people can try between sessions.

What is her clinical background?

She has 23 years of experience, including work in community mental health and Tribal Behavioral Health, and she opened a independent practice in 2013.

What credential does she hold and where is she based?

She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, MT LCSW, and practices from Montana.

Are sessions available in other languages or internationally?

Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.

Which session formats are offered?

Sessions are available by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different schedules and preferences.

How does payment and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the first steps to begin therapy?

Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

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