About Shirley
Shirley Marks is a licensed marriage and family therapist with 44 years of clinical experience in Tennessee. She focuses on addictions, relationship and family concerns, and struggles with self-esteem. Shirley aims to make the first steps into therapy less daunting for people seeking change.
She helps people facing anxiety, depression, bipolar challenges, grief, and trauma. She also supports those dealing with intimacy-related issues, eating concerns, and life transitions. Her work includes attention to cultural and social stresses such as prejudice and discrimination.
How Shirley works
Shirley draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide conversations and plan practical steps. Sessions focus on clear goals, coping skills, and improving everyday functioning. She emphasizes straightforward strategies people can use between sessions.
People often bring problems tied to family of origin, communication breakdowns, codependency, or infidelity. Shirley addresses substance and process addictions, including drug and alcohol concerns and behavioral patterns like gambling or problematic internet use. She also works with clients around domestic violence impacts and feelings of guilt and shame.
The therapy style is collaborative and respectful. Shirley encourages honest discussion about values, identity, and recovery goals. Her long experience shapes a calm, steady approach that helps people sort priorities and try manageable changes.
Sessions are offered in English and delivered online through video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Shirley practices in Tennessee as an LMFT and supports people seeking to rebuild confidence and move forward.
What Shirley works with
The areas below are the ones Shirley selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
- Addictions
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
Also listed
- 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
Training and background
| Register | LMFT |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 44 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | Tennessee |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Approaches That Guide Online Sessions
Shirley uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on clear, practical work. One common approach emphasizes skill-building for coping with stress, anxiety, and mood problems by teaching steady routines and behavior changes to improve daily functioning. Another approach centers on relationship and family dynamics, helping people identify unhelpful patterns, improve communication, and set boundaries to reduce conflict.Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Shirley collaborates with each person to match methods to their goals, needs, and preferences. She listens to what is most urgent, suggests short-term goals, and adjusts methods over time so the plan fits evolving needs.
Online sessions make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life. Video calls let people use live interaction for deeper conversation, while phone sessions require less bandwidth and can be simpler for quick check-ins. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief updates, homework review, or when someone prefers writing. These options offer flexibility so people can keep momentum and use therapy in ways that suit their schedule and comfort.
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Common questions
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A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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