Patrick Shanahan

Patrick Shanahan is a licensed clinical social worker with 44 years of experience who helps people facing grief, relationship stress, anxiety, and life transitions. He focuses on practical steps people can use right away. Sessions are straightforward and aimed at finding direction that fits each person's values.

He believes people are usually self-correcting and can move toward healthier choices once they get unstuck. That idea guides how he works in conversations and exercises. He pays attention to personal values and cultural background to find solutions that make sense for each person.

Early in his career he created and ran an outpatient clinic connected to a runaway and homeless youth shelter. For 18 years he provided case management, individual therapy, and family therapy in the shelter and the community. He also trained staff and graduate students and collaborated with a university on research to improve therapy methods.

Later he spent 18 years working with managed care, helping members use mental health benefits and offering phone-based therapy and crisis intervention. He has also practiced in outpatient offices and in a professional Christian counseling setting.

His approach mixes tried techniques such as cognitive behavioral strategies, communication work, structural and strategic systems thinking, and elements of hypnotherapy and addiction-focused care. He draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and attachment-informed ideas when helpful. He tailors the work to each person's goals and life situation.

Approach and online therapy options

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people clarify what matters to them and take committed steps toward those values. It is often used for anxiety, depression, grief, and life transitions by focusing on action tied to personal values.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It teaches practical skills to change unhelpful thinking patterns and reduce symptoms like anxiety, low mood, or problematic coping behaviors.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, preferences, and what has or has not helped in the past. Together they decide which methods to try first and adjust the plan as progress is made.

This profile does not list specific online session formats, so confirm the available options before booking. Many people find remote sessions help fit therapy into a busy life - they can shorten travel time, allow a quicker check-in during a work break, or reduce the need to rearrange other commitments. Online sessions also make ongoing care easier when caregiving, travel, or relocation would otherwise interrupt progress. Licensed professionals can tailor session pacing and techniques so therapy stays practical and focused on real-life changes.