Shirley Duarte, LMFT — Therapist in California

Hi there, I'm Shirley!

I am a compassionate and motivated therapist with excellent listening skills, capable of quickly building rapport with clients.

My focus

I have worked extensively with clients dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, and grief. I also have extensive experience with neurodivergent clients, such as those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder.

My approach

Some clients are comfortable just being heard by their therapist, and others might seek a transformative process utilizing unique tools from specific modalities. I am open-minded and consistently improve my approach while increasing a variety of techniques. I do this to help your individuality and personalize your needs.

My communication style

I am solution-focused and utilize humor in our sessions. My job is to assist the client to empower themselves to improve not only the situation that brought them to therapy, but also to empower themselves to be the change they need.

My journey to mental healthcare

I gained extensive experience in counseling and therapy working with various clients, including individuals, couples, and families. I also worked in multiple settings, including a private practice, a community mental health center, and a hospital.

My goals for you

Goal setting is a collaborative effort. We will discuss both short-term and long-term goals. Ultimately, it is up to the client to follow through with what is discussed.

Our first session

Initially, starting therapy can feel awkward, especially for those who haven't been in treatment before. It's normal for the first few sessions to lack life-changing insights. Some clients find comfort in being heard, while others seek transformative processes utilizing various therapeutic modalities.

I identify as...

Female
Hispanic or Latinx

Expertise

Specialties

Anxiety

Coping Skills

Developmental Disorders

+ 10 more

Treatment approaches

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

EMDR

Mindfulness-Based

Motivational Interviewing

+ 4 more

Focus populations

BIPOC

First Generation American/Immigrant Parents

LGBTQIA+

Military/Veterans

Police/Fire/First Responders

Sex Worker

+ 6 more

Therapy types

Individual Therapy

Ages served

Adults

Practice

Accepted insurance providers

UnitedHealthcare (UHC)
Aetna
All Savers
Allegiance
Allied

+ 53 more

Languages spoken

English, Spanish

Education

Master of Arts (MA) in Clinical Psychology from Pepperdine University.

Sessions

60 minutes

Virtual sessions

Shirley Duarte