Shirley Southard, LCMHC

Shirley Southard has worked in the human service field for approximately 20 years, bringing extensive experience with mental health, developmental disability, and substance use populations. She has supported clients across a range of settings, including Assisted Medication Management, and has worked with active military members and their families to address the unique stresses and transitions they face.

Her professional focus centers on helping people identify and make meaningful changes so they can face the future with greater hope. She believes everyone benefits from having someone who truly listens and accepts them without judgment, and she cultivates a warm, nonjudgmental space where clients can explore the barriers that may be preventing them from living the life they want.

She holds a Master’s degree in Counseling, a graduate-level program that prepared her for clinical practice. She is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LCMHC), which authorizes her to provide clinical counseling services, and she is also a Licensed Substance Abuse Supervisor, qualified to oversee substance abuse treatment services. In her work she frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Therapy, and psychoeducation to help clients build practical skills and insights.

Her clinical experience includes supporting people navigating divorce and single-parenting, addictions, grief, women’s issues, and mood disorders. She has a strong interest in working with both individuals and children and aims to create collaborative treatment plans that address each client’s goals and strengths.