Shad St. Paul
Compassionate, CBT-informed clinical social worker
LICSW Washington
- Experience
- 14 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Addictions, Trauma and abuse, Anger
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Shad
Shad St. Paul is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) who centers Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) within a collaborative, client-focused practice.
Background and approach
He combines CBT with elements of client-centered and dialectical approaches to help people identify unhelpful thinking patterns, learn practical coping skills, and build emotional resilience. Drawing on 14 years of clinical experience in Washington, he works with concerns such as addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, low self-esteem, and depression.
His sessions integrate practical strategies and empathic listening to address additional challenges like codependency, communication problems, commitment issues, and problems related to obsessive-compulsive tendencies or phobias. Shad emphasizes personalized care, helping clients clarify values, reduce harmful behaviors, and pursue meaningful life goals.
He describes therapy as a partnership that honors individual strengths while focusing on achievable change. Shad offers therapy in English and provides several remote session formats to increase access for people balancing busy schedules.
He frames treatment plans around measurable steps and client priorities, aiming to support sustained recovery and improved daily functioning without promising specific outcomes.
Applying CBT and Client-Centered Care Online
Shad integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and client-centered methods to help clients notice and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors while maintaining an empathic, nonjudgmental therapeutic relationship. CBT provides concrete tools for managing symptoms like anxiety, depression, and addictive behaviors through structured exercises and skills practice. Client-centered work emphasizes listening, validation, and collaborating with the client to set goals that reflect personal values and strengths.He also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques when emotion regulation, distress tolerance, or interpersonal effectiveness skills are needed, offering practical strategies for managing intense emotions and improving communication. Choosing the right blend of approaches is part of the therapeutic process; the therapist and client work together to evaluate what methods fit the client's needs, goals, and preferences and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make it easier to attend sessions from different locations and to fit therapy into busy days. These formats support flexible scheduling, allow for regular check-ins between longer sessions, and can make consistent work on skills more convenient for people balancing work, family, or recovery commitments.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
14+ years
Licensed
Washington
Languages
English