David Shirly, LMHC

David Shirly is a licensed mental health counselor who focuses on helping people navigate relationship concerns and emotional struggles. He offers straightforward support for anxiety, depression, stress, and issues around intimacy and addiction. David emphasizes a calm, collaborative approach so people feel heard and able to take small steps forward.

He draws on client-centered work to build trust and create a space where clients set the pace and goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy tools are used to identify unhelpful thinking and develop practical skills for daily life. Dialectical Behavior Therapy ideas and mindfulness practices help with emotional regulation and staying grounded during intense moments.

David brings ten years of experience working with people facing trauma, communication problems, self-esteem and parenting stress. He also addresses concerns such as attachment and abandonment, codependency, and issues related to alternative sex cultures like BDSM and kink. He aims to help clients reduce symptoms and improve how they relate to themselves and others.

Sessions are offered with attention to each person’s needs and life demands. He works with individuals who want to change patterns, repair connection, or manage difficult feelings more effectively. David is licensed as an LMHC in Florida and applies practical therapy methods to help people meet their goals.

If you are considering therapy, he encourages a first step of answering a short questionnaire and scheduling a time to talk, so you can see if his style fits your needs.

How David’s approaches fit online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the client's goals guide the work. This approach helps people clarify what matters to them and decide what changes to try. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) offers practical tools to spot and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can be practiced between sessions to reduce anxiety and mood symptoms. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) brings concrete skills for emotional regulation, distress tolerance, and improved communication, useful for intense emotions and relationship conflicts.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. David works collaboratively to match methods to a client’s needs and preferences, adjusting techniques as goals evolve. He will discuss which tools might help and try them alongside you rather than imposing a single method.

The therapist's biography does not list specific online formats, so please confirm current session options before booking. Online work can help fit therapy into a busy life by reducing commute time, allowing sessions during breaks, or offering shorter check-ins when needed. Many people find that using practical CBT and DBT exercises between appointments makes online therapy feel useful and action-oriented.