- Person-centered care
- Mindfulness focus
- Sleep and rest support
About Shirley
Shirley Ikenze is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with 26 years of experience. She centers her work on the person in front of her and helps people navigate stress, anxiety, grief, and major life changes. Shirley values each client's own knowledge of their story and focuses on practical steps forward.
In sessions she listens first and helps people identify strengths they can use right away. She draws on client-centered and solution-focused ideas to set clear, achievable goals. For people who struggle with sleep or rest, she pays attention to daily routines and small changes that can make nights easier.
Shirley also uses mindfulness and narrative approaches to help people reframe difficult memories and manage emotional triggers. Motivational interviewing informs how she supports shifts in behavior, whether that means addressing anger, improving self-esteem, or managing ADHD-related challenges. Her style is collaborative and paced to each person's needs.
Her practice includes work around family issues, parenting stress, adoption and foster care concerns, aging and caregiver strain, and end-of-life or hospice-related grief. She offers guidance around career transitions, commitment struggles, and relationship separation without pushing any single path.
Shirley brings steady, straightforward support for people seeking clearer coping strategies. She encourages practical homework between meetings and invites questions about faith and values when they matter to the client. The goal is realistic progress, not instant fixes.
How Shirley’s Approaches Translate to Online Care
Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening and responding to each person's priorities. Online sessions allow Shirley to focus on what matters most to the client and to shape goals that feel doable. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple awareness and breathing practices that people can use between sessions to manage anxiety and improve sleep. Motivational interviewing helps people clarify what they want to change and strengthens their motivation to take practical steps.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shirley will talk with the client about goals and preferences and then try approaches that fit. She adapts methods over time based on what is helping or what needs adjustment, so therapy becomes a collaborative process rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.
If you are considering online work, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are available. Online therapy can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when needed. It also supports doing practical homework between meetings, such as sleep routine adjustments and mindfulness exercises that directly address rest and nighttime habits.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
26+ years
Credentials
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Shirley commonly help with?
She helps people facing stress, anxiety, trauma, grief, depression, sleep problems, parenting strain, and career or life transitions.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is collaborative and practical, using client-centered listening, mindfulness, narrative work, and solution-focused techniques to set clear goals.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 26 years of professional experience working with people on a range of issues.
Where is Shirley licensed and located?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in California.
Can people meet with her in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Does she see international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Shirley?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to therapist availability.