- Stress and anxiety
- Family of origin issues
- CBT and mindfulness
About Sheila
Sheila Sutherland is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, LICSW, practicing in Minnesota with five years of professional experience. She works with stress, anxiety, motivation, self-esteem, depression, and coping with life changes. Sheila also supports people managing chronic illness and a range of mood concerns.
Sheila uses straightforward conversation to help people untangle patterns that still affect their day-to-day. Sessions focus on what is happening now and on small changes that can reduce overwhelm. She draws on client-centered listening to clarify goals and build practical steps forward.
Her approach includes cognitive behavioral techniques to identify unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. Dialectical behavior ideas are used when people need skills for emotion regulation and tolerating upset. Mindfulness practices are offered to help slow down reactivity and notice automatic responses.
Sheila pays attention to how family of origin issues show up in current life. She helps people see repeated roles, expectations, and communication patterns that came from growing up. Conversations look at how those patterns influence relationships, work, identity, and self-worth.
Sessions aim to be direct and focused. Goals are set together and progress is checked regularly. People leaving sessions often take away a short list of next steps and simple coping strategies to try between meetings.
Approaches used in online sessions
Sheila commonly integrates client-centered work with cognitive behavioral techniques during sessions. Client-Centered Therapy involves listening closely to what matters to the person and shaping conversations around their goals; it helps when someone needs clarity about values and choices. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and uses practical experiments to shift unhelpful patterns; it is useful for anxiety, low mood, and self-critical thinking.She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills when emotional regulation and distress tolerance are priorities. DBT provides concrete skills for managing intense emotions, reducing impulsivity, and improving interpersonal effectiveness.
Finding which approach fits is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and will try methods that suit those needs. That collaboration helps decide whether to focus more on skills, mindful noticing, or exploring family-origin patterns.
For practical matters, please confirm the current session formats before booking. Online sessions can be easier to fit into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins, and reduce travel time. Some formats use less bandwidth or do not require the camera, which can help when someone needs a quieter or quicker appointment.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
5+ years
Listed in
Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she work with?
Sheila supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, low self-esteem, motivation, and coping with life changes. She also works with chronic illness, bipolar symptoms, ADHD, grief, anger, and related concerns.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses direct, conversational sessions that focus on current problems and practical steps. The work emphasizes clear goals and skills to try between meetings.
How much experience does she have?
She has five years of professional experience as a clinician working with mood and adjustment concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds the LICSW credential and practices in Minnesota.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting 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 emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.