Lara Shemali, LMHC

Lara Shemali is a licensed mental health counselor in Washington with 29 years of experience. She focuses on practical strategies to reduce stress, manage anxiety, and address depression so people can function better day to day.

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered methods to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes. Sessions often include simple tools to manage worry, build confidence, and handle relationship challenges.

Lara has worked with trauma and abuse survivors and supports people navigating recovery from substance use. She also supports concerns such as attachment and abandonment issues, communication problems, body image, chronic illness and pain, dissociation, and other complex life stressors.

Her approach is collaborative and straightforward. She aims to create a calm, nonjudgmental space where people can talk about their struggles and practice new skills. She acknowledges how hard it is to start therapy and treats that step as meaningful.

She is willing to arrange sessions outside standard business hours when possible to fit busy schedules. People can expect appointments that focus on practical coping strategies, clearer communication patterns, and steps toward stronger self-esteem and motivation.

How CBT, ACT, and Client-Centered Work Online

CBT helps people notice and test unhelpful thoughts and then try small, specific behavior changes that reduce anxiety and improve mood. It is useful for stress, worry, depression, and problems that respond to clear coping skills.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on clarifying values and taking actions that matter despite difficult thoughts or feelings, which can help with chronic stress and avoidance. Client-centered therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and collaboration so the person feels heard and can explore what matters most to them.

Figuring out which approach fits best is a joint process. The therapist and client review goals and preferences and try techniques together, adjusting over time. The aim is to match tools to the person's needs rather than follow one fixed method.

Online sessions can be done by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy fit into busy lives. Video allows face-to-face conversation, phone can be easier if bandwidth is limited, and messaging or chat can support brief check-ins or on-the-go reflections. These options make it easier to keep consistent work on goals and to use therapy in ways that suit schedules and day-to-day demands.