Shakira Thomas, LPC

Shakira Thomas is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Tennessee. She draws on seven years of clinical experience to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, and relationship difficulties. She meets individuals where they are and treats each person as the expert on their own life.

Her approach centers on practical conversations and doable steps. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, client-centered listening, and mindfulness tools to help people spot unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors. Sessions focus on skills that can be practiced between meetings and on small changes that add up over time.

Shakira emphasizes clear goals and short-term strategies when appropriate. She also attends to deeper questions about meaning and values using existential ideas when clients want that focus. Motivational Interviewing helps people find internal reasons to make lasting changes.

People come for help with many related issues such as attachment and abandonment, body image, caregiver stress, codependency, communication problems, and family of origin concerns. She also supports those facing divorce, commitment struggles, fatherhood issues, and forgiveness work.

Shakira aims for a warm, respectful tone in sessions. She listens without judgment and works collaboratively to build plans that fit daily life. Her style is direct but empathetic, with an emphasis on tools people can actually use.

To start, she asks a few questions about goals and priorities so sessions can focus on what matters most. Progress is reviewed regularly and plans are adjusted as needed.

How these approaches work online

Shakira uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and test new behaviors in everyday life; this approach suits worries, low mood, and stress by focusing on clear steps and practice. Client-Centered Therapy gives clients space to tell their story while the therapist listens closely and reflects concerns back, which helps people feel understood and clarify what they want. Existential ideas are used when clients want to look at meaning, values, and life choices, and these conversations can help with feelings of emptiness or major life shifts.

Deciding which approach to use is collaborative. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has helped or not helped before. Together they choose techniques to try and review progress, adjusting the plan as needed so sessions stay focused on real-life change.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy fit varied routines. Video works well for more in-depth conversation and skill-building. Phone sessions can be a good option when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat or text messaging can support brief reflections, quick coping strategies, or ongoing encouragement between longer sessions.