- Addictions
- Family of origin issues
- Relationships
About Shirley
Shirley Marks is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT) in Tennessee with 44 years of professional experience. She focuses on addictions, relationship and family concerns, self-esteem, stress and anxiety, and coping with life changes. She also works with people facing grief, intimacy-related struggles, eating issues, mood disorders, and LGBT-related matters.
Shirley helps people talk through patterns that come from their family of origin and current relationships. She aims to create an open space for clients to describe thoughts and feelings without judgment. Sessions center on noticing repeated behaviors and testing different ways of responding.
Her approach is practical and problem-focused. She assists people to recognize unhelpful patterns, practice new communication habits, and develop steps for managing stress and cravings. When relationships are strained, she helps individuals sort what they want and how to ask for it.
Shirley draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide conversations and skill practice. She works at a pace set by the client and focuses on concrete tools people can use between sessions. That can include communication exercises, coping strategies, and planning for challenging situations.
People considering therapy are invited to complete the matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. Shirley’s long experience includes many different concerns, and she brings that background to each session without assuming a single solution.
Approaches Shirley Uses and how online sessions fit
Shirley uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques to guide sessions. One common approach she uses is skills-based work that focuses on communication and behavior change. This involves practicing specific skills for managing stress, improving conversations, and handling triggers related to addictions or relationship conflict. Another approach is pattern-focused work that looks at family of origin influences. This helps people identify repeated roles and expectations that affect current relationships and decision making. The work is practical and aimed at changing small behaviors that accumulate over time. Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shirley will discuss possible methods and decide together which fits the client’s goals and preferences. That collaborative process means trying an approach and adjusting it based on how it feels and what helps. Confirm the available session options before booking to know which formats she currently offers. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people work on communication and coping skills between appointments without rearranging a full day.Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Experience
44+ years
Listed in
Tennessee
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she work with?
She works with addictions, relationship and family concerns, self-esteem, stress and anxiety, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating concerns, bipolar and depression among other topics.
What is her style in sessions?
Sessions focus on practical conversation and skill practice. She emphasizes noticing patterns and trying new ways of responding in everyday life.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 44 years of professional experience working with a wide range of personal and relational issues.
What credentials and location should I expect?
She is an LMFT licensed in Tennessee and practices with that credential in the state.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions priced?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling 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.