About David
David Shirly is a licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) based in Florida with ten years of clinical experience. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, and relationship or intimacy-related concerns. He also supports those coping with sleep problems, self-esteem struggles, and attention-related challenges such as ADHD.
His sessions are straightforward and person-centered. He listens first, then helps people set practical goals they can try between meetings. Conversations often include strategies for managing strong feelings, improving communication, and breaking unhelpful habits.
Background and approach
David uses techniques drawn from cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to teach concrete skills for emotion regulation and problem solving. He also draws on emotionally-focused and mindfulness approaches to help people stay present and repair relational patterns. The work mixes short-term tools with deeper conversation when needed.
He has experience addressing a wide range of concerns, including trauma and abuse, substance use, codependency, attachment and abandonment issues, and problems around commitment or control. He also helps people navigate difficult separations, caregiver stress, body image concerns, and relationship communication challenges. Sessions are offered in English and are available through video calls, phone, live chat, or text messaging.
David accepts international clients and works with people to find a session rhythm and format that fits their life and goals.
Online approaches that teach skills and repair relationships
David blends client-centered work with cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy to address emotional and behavioral concerns. Client-centered therapy focuses on building a supportive, nonjudgmental space where people can talk through what matters most and set their own goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy is about identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to reduce anxiety, depression, and ADHD-related struggles. Dialectical behavior therapy teaches practical skills in emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness for strong emotions and relationship conflict.Choosing the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will review goals, try strategies in session, and adjust methods based on what helps. This means practical tools may be mixed with deeper relational work until a useful balance is found.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet. Video calls provide face-to-face time for skill practice and emotional work. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth or camera use is limited. Live chat and text-based messaging are useful for brief check-ins, homework support, or when a shorter touchpoint fits a busy day. These options make it simpler to keep therapy consistent while fitting it into everyday life.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
Also listed
- Abandonment
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- BDSM, kink, and alternative sex culture
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Depression
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hoarding
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sleeping disorders
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed
- Florida, New York
- Languages
- English
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