Shirley Ikenze, LCSW
Licensed in California · 26 years in practice
Shirley Ikenze is a licensed clinical social worker who centers sessions on the person seeking help.
License and registration
- LCSW, California
- 25539 · expires March 2027
- NPI
- 1730334525 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 26
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check any license with the state board and any NPI with the national registry.
About Shirley
Shirley Ikenze is a licensed clinical social worker who centers sessions on the person seeking help. She draws on client-centered and solution-focused methods to help people manage anxiety, stress, grief, and the fallout of trauma. Shirley speaks plainly and aims to make each meeting feel practical and manageable.
She brings 26 years of experience working with adults on life changes, parenting concerns, career stress, and self-esteem struggles. In sessions she listens first and follows the person's lead, helping them name strengths and set small, realistic goals.
Background and approach
She uses motivational interviewing to support commitment to change and mindfulness practices to reduce reactivity and improve sleep habits. Her work addresses a wide range of concerns including depression, anger, relationship and family issues, and caregiving stress. Shirley also supports people facing bereavement, end-of-life caregiving, abandonment wounds, and challenges related to adoption and blended families.
She offers practical techniques for coping and daily routines that reduce overwhelm. Shirley values each person's story and helps them rewrite difficult parts using narrative approaches. That can mean shifting how a problem is talked about, exploring patterns, and highlighting moments of resilience.
Sessions typically combine listening, short exercises, and planning next steps that fit everyday life. People meet with her by video, phone, live chat, or text messaging. She practices in California as an LCSW and conducts sessions in English.
Getting started involves a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a time that works for the individual.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Shirley lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- ADHD
- Stress, Anxiety
- Family conflicts
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
- Depression
- Abandonment
- Adoption and foster care
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Blended family issues
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Divorce and separation
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Multicultural concerns
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-love
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Shirley names
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
Therapeutic approaches for online sessions
Shirley uses client-centered therapy to make sessions about the person's priorities. That approach means the therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and collaborates on what matters most in each session. It helps when someone needs a space to sort feelings and decide next steps.She also uses mindfulness therapy to teach simple practices that reduce stress and improve sleep and emotional regulation. Mindfulness work in short online sessions can include brief breathing exercises and grounding practices to use between meetings. Motivational interviewing is another tool she uses to help people strengthen commitment to change by exploring ambivalence in a respectful way.
Finding the right approach is part of the process. Shirley works together with each person to choose methods that match their goals, preferences, and day-to-day life. She adjusts the plan as progress is made or new needs arise so work stays practical and relevant.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video allows face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone can be easier when bandwidth is low, live chat is useful for shorter check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing coaching or step-by-step planning. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to use the format that feels most comfortable.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does Shirley help address?
She works with anxiety, stress, depression, trauma and grief. She also supports people with parenting strain, sleep problems, and career or self-esteem issues.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Shirley uses a person-centered approach that follows what matters most to the client. She pairs that with solution-focused and motivational methods to set clear, manageable goals.
How much experience does she have?
She has 26 years of professional experience working with adults on a range of mental health and life transition concerns.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW, practicing in California. Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted. Sessions are provided to people within the scope of her California practice.
Which session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a therapy process with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule based on the therapist's availability.
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