- Addictions
- Trauma informed
- Life purpose
About Shirley
Shirley Darden is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in Maryland with 11 years of experience. She works with adults facing addiction, family conflict, trauma and abuse, grief, and bipolar-related concerns. Shirley also focuses on questions of life purpose and on forgiveness as part of recovery.
She uses a trauma-informed perspective to notice how earlier events shape present reactions. In sessions she helps people name patterns that keep causing pain. Conversations cover practical steps as well as the feelings behind difficult choices.
Shirley respects clients' spiritual and faith backgrounds and brings that into sessions when it matters to the person. She aims to help people explore sources of meaning without pushing any particular belief.
Her work tends to be collaborative and straightforward. She listens, reflects what she hears, and offers options to try between sessions. Those options can include small behavioral experiments, changes in daily routines, or ways of managing intense emotions.
Clients who come with life transitions often focus on questions about what matters next. Shirley supports that kind of exploration while also addressing immediate problems like substance use, grief, or mood instability. She offers practical steps alongside reflection to help people move forward a bit at a time.
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Shirley uses evidence-based techniques grounded in a trauma-informed perspective. That approach looks at how past hurt affects present behavior and helps people reduce reactivity and manage symptoms linked to trauma. She also integrates practical emotion-regulation and behavioral methods. These techniques teach concrete skills for handling intense feelings and for changing daily routines that contribute to problems like substance use or mood swings. Finding the right approach is part of the work. She will collaborate with each person to decide which methods to try based on their goals, needs, and preferences. That planning can change as progress is made or new issues arise. Confirm the current online session options before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Online care can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when schedules demand it. It also lets people connect when geographic distance would otherwise be a barrier. Licensed professionals and therapists commonly adapt techniques so they work over video or phone, and Shirley will discuss how to make sessions practical for everyday life.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Experience
11+ years
Listed in
Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with adults facing addictions, family conflict, trauma and abuse, grief, and bipolar-related concerns. Life purpose and forgiveness are listed as additional focus areas.
How does she approach someone feeling stuck?
She uses a trauma-informed perspective and practical conversations to identify patterns and small steps forward. Sessions mix reflection with actionable strategies to test between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 11 years of experience in clinical practice working with the concerns listed above.
What are her credentials and where does she practice?
She holds an LCPC credential in Maryland and practices there.
Which languages are offered during sessions?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats. Confirm current session options before booking.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.