CBTTherapistsUSA

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

SS Portrait of Shirley Souder

Shirley Souder

Calm, practical guidance for meaningful change

LMFT, LCSW Indiana

Experience
43 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Shirley

About Shirley

Shirley Souder brings a blend of cognitive behavioral techniques and relationship-focused methods to her therapeutic work, drawing on 43 years of practice. She integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with attachment-informed and client-centered perspectives to help clients identify patterns, shift unhelpful thinking, and build practical skills for everyday challenges.

Background and approach

Her background includes degrees in Christian Counseling and psychology, and she weaves these influences into a practical, values-attentive approach that emphasizes change through clear steps and personal insight. Souder’s training spans theology and psychology, and she pairs William Glasser’s reality-oriented questions about choice and change with practical applications for contemporary life.

Her work often addresses stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and parenting concerns, grief, addiction, intimacy issues, and self-esteem. She also offers support around career transitions, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and an array of related concerns such as communication problems, codependency, and coping with major life changes.

Based in Indiana, she brings longstanding clinical experience while working with clients to develop actionable strategies, emotional forgiveness skills, and tools for navigating new rhythms after loss or life shifts.

How Shirley’s Approaches Translate to Online Care

Shirley uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thoughts and develop practical strategies for changing behaviors and managing symptoms, which can be especially useful for anxiety, depression, and stress. Attachment-Based Therapy is also part of her toolkit and focuses on how early and current relationship patterns shape emotional responses, helping people improve connection and communication in close relationships.

Determining which approach fits best is a collaborative process. She works with clients to explore goals, preferences, and the problems they want to address, and then tailors methods and pacing to what feels most useful. That shared decision-making helps clients experiment with techniques and adjust the plan as needed.

Online therapy with her is available through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different schedules and comfort levels. These formats make it easier to access ongoing support from Indiana or abroad, maintain continuity during life transitions, and practice skills between sessions in everyday settings.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?
She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy-related issues, parenting, grief, addictions, self-esteem, and career or life transition challenges.
What therapeutic styles does she use in sessions?
The approach combines Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with attachment-informed and client-centered methods, plus elements of emotionally-focused work and motivational interviewing to tailor interventions to each person.
How much experience does she have?
She has 43 years of professional experience, bringing long-term clinical perspective to assessment and treatment planning.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds LMFT and LCSW licenses with license numbers IN LMFT 35001030A and IN LCSW 34002624A, and she practices from Indiana.
Can she work with people who live outside the United States?
Yes, she accepts international clients and offers services to people beyond her state of residence.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexible options for different needs.
How are fees and subscriptions handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability, and sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are needed to begin working together?
To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseSelf esteem

Also works with

AddictionsGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAvoidant personalityBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDissociationDivorce and separationDomestic violenceFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPost-traumatic stressSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-loveSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Motivational Interviewing

Experience

43+ years

Licensed

Indiana, Indiana

Languages

English