Sheet 1
- Addictions support
- Relationship issues
- Family conflict
About Shirley
LMFT Shirley Marks is a Tennessee licensed marriage and family therapist with 44 years of experience helping people manage addictions, relationship struggles, family conflict, mood disorders, and life transitions. She works with individuals on issues like anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, grief, and problems with intimacy and self-esteem. Sessions focus on practical conversation and real-life coping strategies.
Shirley uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide sessions. She helps clients talk through addiction and process behaviors, repair communication problems, and address family of origin wounds that keep recurring. Her work also covers multicultural concerns, prejudice and discrimination, and LGBT-related stressors.
She supports people navigating domestic violence effects, codependency, infidelity, and the aftermath of trauma and abuse. For career and eating-related challenges she emphasizes concrete steps and behavior changes. She also addresses shame, guilt, and forgiveness as part of recovery and healing.
Clients can expect straightforward conversation about what’s happening now and what practical steps might help next. Shirley encourages clear goals, regular check-ins on progress, and adjustments when something isn’t working. The focus is usually on manageable changes rather than lengthy theory.
To begin, prospective clients follow the site process to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Fees vary by location and sessions are billed through a cancel-anytime subscription model. Sessions are conducted in English and international clients are not accepted at this time.
Sheet 2
How her therapeutic methods translate to online work
Shirley uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on behavior and communication. That can mean identifying patterns that keep a problem going and practicing different responses in real life. This approach is useful for addictions, process behaviors, and relationship communication problems. She also works with trauma-informed conversation that attends to safety and pacing. In practice this means slowing down when a topic feels overwhelming and using step-by-step coping skills for stress, anxiety, and grief. Finding the best approach is a collaborative process. The therapist and client review current needs, goals, and preferences and agree on methods to try. Sessions include regular check-ins and adjustments if a method isn’t helping. Confirm the specific session formats before booking since the original biography does not list which formats are offered. Online work can help fit therapy into a busy week by reducing travel time and making attendance simpler. It can also make shorter check-ins easier to schedule around work or caregiving commitments and offer flexibility when energy or bandwidth varies.Sheet 3
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
44+ years
Listed in
Tennessee
Languages
English
Sheet 4
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with addictions, relationship and family conflict, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, grief, intimacy issues, eating concerns, and career stress.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and focuses on practical conversation and real-life coping strategies to address presenting problems.
How much experience does she have?
She has 44 years of professional experience working with a wide range of clinical and interpersonal concerns.
What are her credentials and location?
She is a Tennessee licensed marriage and family therapist - LMFT - and practices in Tennessee.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can international clients book sessions?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the urgent help numbers.