Patrick Shanahan, LCSW

Patrick Shanahan is a licensed clinical social worker with a long history of helping people find clearer ways forward. He focuses on practical steps that reduce stress, ease anger, and rebuild connection. He explains things plainly and works with adults who are facing relationship strain, grief, addiction, career shifts, or life changes.

He believes people can often correct their own course once they get unstuck. His work uses straightforward problem solving and conversations about values to help clients set realistic goals. He has drawn on ideas from many traditions to understand different viewpoints and life choices.

Patrick began his career founding and running an outpatient clinic at a runaway and homeless youth shelter. For the first 18 years he provided case management, individual therapy, and family work both in the shelter and out in the community. He also trained and supervised staff and graduate students during that time.

Later roles included work with managed care where he offered phone-based therapy and crisis help for 18 years, plus time in outpatient office settings and faith-based counseling. He completed 29 hours toward a Ph.D. in family therapy and was offered a fellowship with Washington University’s doctoral program.

His approach combines cognitive behavioral methods with acceptance and commitment ideas, attachment-informed thinking, and emotion-focused and client-centered work. Sessions often include problem-solving, communication practice, and planning steps clients can try between meetings.

Patrick practices in Missouri and speaks English. He brings 44 years of experience as an LCSW to guide people through difficult transitions and relationship challenges.

Using evidence-based approaches during online therapy

Patrick often draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients notice unhelpful thinking and try small behavior changes. CBT is practical and works well for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy is another approach he uses to clarify values and build committed action, which can help when people feel stuck or overwhelmed.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. He will collaborate with each person to choose methods that fit their goals, personality, and life circumstances. That often means mixing ideas from CBT and ACT with attachment-focused or emotion-focused techniques when relationships or connection are central concerns.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video lets people use visual cues for emotional or relational work. Phone sessions are useful when bandwidth is limited or a quieter call suits the schedule. Live chat and text messaging are helpful for brief check-ins, coaching-style guidance, or follow-up between sessions. These options make therapy more flexible and easier to fit around work, caregiving, and travel.