Shirley Butler

Shirley Butler is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 23 years of experience in mental health care. She runs a private practice she opened in 2013 and has previous experience in community mental health and tribal behavioral health. Shirley aims to create a calm, respectful space where people can tell their story and begin to heal.

She completed a Bachelor of Human Services Rehabilitation at Salish Kootenai College in 1998 and a Master of Social Work from Walla Walla University in 2004. After graduate school she completed three thousand supervised clinical hours before sitting for her clinical license exam. These steps shaped her grounded approach to clinical work.

In practice she uses Mindfulness Therapy alongside Attachment-Based and Client-Centered approaches, and she also incorporates elements of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy when useful. She has training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing and applies it selectively for post-traumatic stress and disturbing experiences.

Shirley favors building rapport and a strong therapeutic alliance before moving into focused work. She collaborates with each person to create an individualized treatment plan tied to their goals. Sessions often involve talking through painful memories, learning coping skills, and practicing new ways to respond to stress.

People who find her approach helpful are those who want a steady, listening presence and practical steps to manage anxiety, grief, relationship strain, parenting stresses, mood concerns, or life transitions. She offers services from Montana and meets with English-speaking clients, including those outside the United States.

How Shirley’s Approaches Translate to Online Work

Shirley uses Mindfulness Therapy to help people notice thoughts and feelings in the present moment and reduce reactivity; this can be useful for anxiety, stress, and mood regulation. She also draws on Attachment-Based Therapy to look at patterns in close relationships and how early bonds affect current connections. Client-Centered Therapy is another core part of her work, which means sessions focus on the client’s own goals and pace rather than a fixed agenda.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Shirley emphasizes building rapport and will work with each person to choose techniques that match their needs, goals, and comfort level. She tailors treatment plans together with clients and adjusts methods over time as progress and preferences become clearer.

The therapist's biography does not specify which online session formats she uses, so confirm available options before booking. In general, online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when schedules require, and offer flexibility when travel or location would otherwise be a barrier. Discuss format preferences when you schedule so sessions match how you live and what helps you engage.