Shari Peterson, LICSW

Shari Peterson is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with more than 20 years in mental health care. She has worked in community mental health, schools, and outpatient settings, and brings that range to each conversation. Her background includes helping people facing depression, anxiety, addiction, ADHD, relationship concerns, and complex trauma.

Her style is warm and straightforward. She uses a strengths-based, person-centered way of working that centers the person's own goals. Sessions are collaborative and geared toward what feels most useful to the individual.

Shari mixes approaches to match each person's needs. That can mean using cognitive-behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thinking, narrative tools to reframe life stories, or mindfulness practices to reduce stress. She pays attention to how past relationships affect present behavior and to patterns that repeat in relationships.

She also provides care for concerns that overlap with physical health, such as chronic pain, illness, and disability. Work may include addressing body image, sleep, eating issues, or the emotional effects of long-term health concerns.

People who choose Shari often want a therapist who listens, helps them notice patterns, and sets practical steps they can try between sessions. She aims to create a clear plan together and to support steady progress over time.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on the person in front of the therapist, offering empathy, active listening, and support while the person names goals. This approach helps when someone needs a safe space to sort through feelings and choices.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and teaches practical skills to change unhelpful patterns. It is often used for anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and managing stress.

Mindfulness Therapy brings simple attention practices into sessions and into daily life to reduce reactivity and improve focus. These practices can be helpful for stress, chronic pain, and dealing with intense emotions.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That plan can change over time as needs evolve.

The original biography did not list specific online session formats. Please confirm current session options before booking. In general, online therapy can make scheduling easier, reduce travel time, and fit sessions into a busy day. It can also allow short check-ins when a full in-person visit is hard to arrange, or offer alternatives when camera use or long calls are difficult.