PuttingFamilyFirst

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SW Portrait of Shana Williams-Leary
Online therapist

Shana Williams-Leary

Practical therapy for family and parenting challenges

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Credentials
LCSW
Experience
24 years
Licensed in
Florida, Maine, Utah
Languages
English, Spanish
Format
Online sessions

About Shana

Shana Williams-Leary is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who focuses on family and parenting concerns along with a broad range of life stressors. She brings 24 years of clinical experience and an approachable, straightforward style that aims to meet people where they are. Sessions are offered in English and Spanish and include several remote formats to fit busy schedules.

Shana begins by listening carefully to what matters most to the person seated across from her.

Background and approach

She then tailors practical steps that build on strengths and real-life needs. Her work often addresses trauma, grief, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, addiction, and stress that comes from caregiving or major life changes. Her methods include cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful patterns, attachment-focused ideas to improve relationships, and EMDR for trauma-related symptoms.

Mindfulness and motivational interviewing are used to increase awareness and commitment to change. This mix allows sessions to be brief and solution focused when needed, or deeper and exploratory when that fits better. Clients can expect a warm, respectful presence that prioritizes trust and clear goals.

Shana emphasizes collaboration and skill-building so people leave sessions with concrete tools to manage day-to-day challenges. She also has experience supporting caregivers and families facing aging and health-related stresses. Shana holds Florida and Utah LCSW licenses: FL LCSW SW7878 and UT LCSW 12996356-3501.

Her practice reflects long-term clinical work in inpatient crisis and outpatient counseling settings across several states and some international contexts.

Approaches that translate well to online family and parenting support

Attachment-based work focuses on patterns in relationships and helps people understand how connection and trust shape behavior. It can be useful for improving communication and closeness in families. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, targets the thoughts and habits that keep problems going and teaches specific skills for managing anxiety, mood, and stress. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing, EMDR, is a trauma-focused method that helps process distressing memories and reduce their intensity when trauma symptoms are present.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will start by hearing what matters most, then discuss which methods seem likely to meet the client's goals and preferences. Sessions can be brief and solution-focused or more in-depth depending on what the person wants to accomplish.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation, phone sessions remove the need for a camera, and live chat or text messaging can fit into busy days or support ongoing check-ins. These options make it easier to fit regular work on parenting, relationships, trauma recovery, and stress management into everyday life without major travel.

Attachment-Based Therapy

Looks at how early bonds shaped what you expect from closeness, and how that plays out now with a partner, a parent, or your own children.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, family and parenting issues, trauma and abuse, grief, depression, addictions, relationship challenges, anger, self-esteem, career concerns, bipolar disorder, compassion fatigue, ADHD, and related topics.
What is her general therapy style and approach?
Her style is warm and practical. She blends attachment-informed work, cognitive behavioral tools, EMDR for trauma, mindfulness, and motivational interviewing to match what each person needs.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 24 years of clinical experience working in inpatient crisis and outpatient counseling settings across multiple states and some international contexts.
What credentials and licensure does she hold and where is she located?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with these licenses: FL LCSW SW7878 and UT LCSW 12996356-3501. She practices from Florida.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Spanish. International clients are accepted.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences.
How are fees handled for therapy?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with this therapist?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
24 years
Licensed
Florida, Maine, Utah, Arizona
Languages
English, Spanish

Next step

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