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SB Portrait of Shirley Butler

Shirley Butler

Experienced trauma-informed LCSW

LCSW Montana

Experience
23 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Shirley

About Shirley

Shirley Butler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 23 years of experience in mental health care.

Background and approach

She trained in human services and social work in Montana and built a clinical career that includes community mental health, Tribal Behavioral Health, crisis on-call work, and a independent practice she opened in 2013.

Her background includes supervised clinical practice leading to licensure and training in EMDR, which she uses alongside other therapeutic tools to address trauma and distress. Shirley blends evidence-informed approaches such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with attachment-focused and client-centered methods, tailoring treatment plans to each person's needs.

She emphasizes developing a strong therapeutic alliance and collaborates with clients to create individualized goals and strategies. Her work addresses a broad range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and communication challenges, parenting and family issues, career concerns, bipolar disorder, and many related focus areas like codependency, abandonment, and self-love.

Located in Montana, she offers services in English and accepts international clients. Her practice prioritizes respectful listening, cultural awareness, and practical interventions designed to help people move toward meaningful change.

How Shirley's Approaches Work Online



Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to reduce distress and improve daily functioning; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relationships shape current patterns in connection and trust, helping people understand and shift relational dynamics that contribute to difficulty.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative part of the therapeutic process. Shirley works with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences and then tailors methods accordingly, combining techniques when helpful and adjusting the plan as therapy progresses.

Online therapy with Shirley is offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility and accessibility. These formats make it possible to maintain continuity of care across locations and schedules, support different communication preferences, and allow therapists and clients to work together consistently even when in-person meetings are not practical.

Frequently asked questions

What types of concerns does this therapist address?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family problems, parenting challenges, anger, career concerns, and bipolar disorder, along with related areas such as codependency and self-love.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
Her approach combines evidence-informed methods like CBT with attachment-based and client-centered techniques, emphasizing rapport, collaboration, and individualized treatment planning.
What is her professional background and experience?
She has 23 years of experience across community mental health and Tribal Behavioral Health, has served as a crisis on-call therapist, and has run a independent practice since 2013.
What credentials and location are listed for this clinician?
She holds the credential LCSW with licence identifier MT LCSW BBH-LCSW-LIC-815 and practices from Montana.
Does she provide sessions in other languages or accept international clients?
She offers services in English and does accept international clients.
In what session formats can clients meet with her?
Clients may connect through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging according to availability.
How are costs and billing handled?
Session costs vary with location and therapist availability and use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are required to begin working with her?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session based on the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyTrauma and abuseSelf esteemDepressionCoping with life changes

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflictsGriefParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorder

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsForgivenessPost-traumatic stressSelf-loveWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

23+ years

Licensed

Montana

Languages

English