Shirley Marks
Trusted family and relationship support
- Credentials
- LMFT
- Experience
- 44 years
- Licensed in
- Tennessee
- Languages
- English
- Format
- Online sessions
About Shirley
Shirley Marks is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 44 years of clinical experience. She focuses on family and parenting concerns alongside a wide range of relationship and personal issues. Shirley keeps sessions straightforward and practical so parents can get help without confusing jargon.
She helps people who are coping with addictions, stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and grief. Relationship and intimacy issues are a regular focus, as are self-esteem and life transitions.
Background and approach
Her work also addresses multicultural concerns, LGBT issues, and women's concerns, along with problems like codependency and communication difficulties. In sessions Shirley aims to build a calm, open space where thoughts and feelings can be talked through without judgment. She draws on approaches grounded in evidence to identify steps that fit each family’s situation.
Her style is collaborative and down-to-earth, focused on small changes that add up over time. Shirley provides services to people in Tennessee and conducts sessions in English. She offers several online formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to match different schedules and needs.
To begin, a person completes a short matching questionnaire and schedules sessions based on the therapist’s availability. Her Tennessee license is LMFT, listed as TN LMFT 1090.
Approaches that fit family and parenting needs
Shirley uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that are practical and focused on real-life change. One common approach emphasizes building clear communication and problem-solving skills for families. This helps households reduce conflict and set routines that work for parents and partners.Another approach focuses on coping strategies for anxiety, stress, and addictive behaviors. It teaches short-term tools people can use when they feel overwhelmed, and ways to replace harmful patterns with healthier habits.
Choosing the right method is part of the process. Shirley works with each person to decide which approaches best match their goals and daily life. That choice is collaborative and can change as needs evolve over time.
Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These formats make it easier to fit therapy around parenting schedules and busy days. They also let clients keep momentum between sessions with brief check-ins when needed.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Shirley focus on?
What is her therapy style like?
How long has she been practicing?
Where is she licensed and located?
Which languages are supported?
What session formats are available?
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also works with
- Antisocial personality
- Bipolar disorder
- Career difficulties
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating disorders
- Family of origin issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- LGBT
- Multicultural concerns
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Self esteem
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
- Experience
- 44 years
- Licensed
- Tennessee
- Languages
- English
Next step
Talk to Shirley
- Takes a few minutes
- Nothing to set up just to look
- Stop at any point