Therapist profile
Shirley Semel, LMFT
California
LMFT - Relationships and Codependency support
Continue with ShirleyWhere Shirley stands
- Credentials
- LMFT
- License
- LMFT, California / 93363
- NPI
- 1003430687
- Experience
- 8 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- California
About
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Solution-Focused work
About Shirley
Shirley Semel is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in California with eight years of clinical experience. She works with people managing stress, anxiety, relationship strain, depression, addiction concerns, trauma, grief, and codependency. Shirley also helps with parenting challenges, sleep and eating issues, anger, and coping with major life changes.
She uses straightforward conversation to identify what keeps people stuck. Sessions focus on practical steps as well as exploring patterns that recur in relationships and family life. Shirley has experience running groups for domestic violence, anger management, and addiction relapse prevention, and draws on that group work when appropriate.
Her approach combines Client-Centered Therapy with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and psychodynamic perspectives. That means she listens for what matters to each person, helps spot unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and looks at past patterns that affect present choices. Solution-Focused ideas are used when people want short-term goals and clear action steps.
Shirley can work with people facing blended family tensions, caregiver stress, chronic illness or pain, divorce and separation, and problems with communication or control. She also addresses issues linked to substance use, domestic violence, family of origin wounds, and feelings of isolation.
Sessions are conducted in English and reflect her background as an LMFT practicing in California. Prospective clients are invited to confirm current session options and scheduling details before booking a first appointment.
How sessions work
How her approaches apply to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting back what matters to the client. Online sessions let Shirley listen and respond in the moment, helping people name priorities and feel understood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. In an online format Shirley can introduce concrete exercises, thought records, and behavioral experiments to try between sessions.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Shirley works with each person to decide whether a longer psychodynamic look at past patterns or a brief, goal-focused method fits best. She checks goals and adjusts the plan as clients notice what helps or what needs more attention.
Session formats are not specified in her biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, shorten travel time, and allow for different types of check-ins such as brief phone conversations or longer video meetings depending on what the therapist and client agree will work. These practical choices aim to help therapy fit into everyday life while keeping the focus on clear steps and personal patterns.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family problems, depression, addictions, trauma and grief, among other concerns listed in her profile.
What is her therapy style like?
Her style blends Client-Centered listening with Cognitive Behavioral techniques and psychodynamic ideas, and she uses Solution-Focused steps for short-term goals.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has eight years of experience as a practicing clinician, including leading groups for domestic violence, anger management, and addiction relapse prevention.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LMFT, licensed in California, and practices there.
Which languages are offered?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How does payment or cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time; details depend on the plan chosen.
How do I begin a first session?
Use the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session through the booking process described there.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.