PuttingFamilyFirst

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SM Portrait of Shiho Murakami
Online therapist

Shiho Murakami

Compassionate support for family and parenting concerns

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Credentials
LICSW, MD, LCSW-C
Experience
6 years
Licensed in
District of Columbia, Maryland
Languages
English, Japanese
Format
Online sessions

About Shiho

Shiho Murakami welcomes people who are worried about family strain, parenting questions, or issues around identity. She offers a calm, respectful space where parents and adults can talk through practical concerns and make small changes that matter.

Sessions are offered in English and Japanese, and she is licensed in Maryland as an LICSW and in the District of Columbia as an LCSW-C and MD LCSW-C 23159. Her style is straightforward and warm.

Background and approach

She listens first to understand what matters most to each person. Then she helps set clear, manageable goals and adapts the plan as needs change. That can mean practicing communication skills, learning ways to cope with anxiety or trauma, or working through family patterns that cause stress.

Murakami uses a few evidence-informed approaches tailored to each situation. She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thinking, attachment-based ideas to repair relational patterns, and acceptance and commitment strategies to build values-driven action. Dialectical and client-centered ideas also shape how she responds in session.

Over six years of practice, she has worked with people facing parenting challenges, LGBT-related concerns, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem struggles. She also addresses issues such as adoption and foster care, blended family tensions, caregiver stress, substance concerns, and body image. Her approach aims to be practical and compassionate.

The focus is on clear next steps and steady progress. She supports people through change without judgment and with attention to each person’s cultural and language needs.

Online approaches for family and parenting work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and then commit to small actions guided by their values. It can help when parenting stress or identity concerns make it hard to act in the ways that matter most. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how relationships shape behavior and feelings. It is useful for repairing trust, improving communication, and addressing patterns that repeat across family generations.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will listen to a person’s goals and preferences and then suggest methods that fit. That process is collaborative - options are explained and adjusted as progress is tracked.

Online sessions use video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy flexible. Video and phone work well for real-time conversations and skill practice. Live chat and text are useful for short check-ins, step-by-step coaching, or when scheduling is tight. These options help people fit therapy into busy family lives and maintain continuity while balancing parenting and other responsibilities.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she address?
She helps with family conflict, parenting challenges, LGBT-related concerns, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem issues. Additional areas include adoption and foster care, attachment problems, blended family issues, and caregiving stress.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is warm, straightforward, and goal-oriented. She listens first, then works with clients to set clear, practical steps and adapt plans over time.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has six years of professional work experience supporting people with family and trauma-related concerns.
What credentials and where is she licensed?
She is licensed in Maryland as an LICSW and holds DC credentials as LCSW-C. The documented license details include DC LICSW LC200001939 and MD LCSW-C 23159.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Japanese.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. After that you can schedule sessions based on the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
6 years
Licensed
District of Columbia, Maryland
Languages
English, Japanese

Next step

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