About Shirley
Shirley Grube is a licensed clinical social worker who uses practical, problem-focused techniques to help people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. She draws on four decades of experience to offer straightforward help for everyday struggles. Shirley speaks English and practices from Pennsylvania as an LCSW.
Shirley centers work on what the person brings to the room. She helps clients identify strengths and small steps that make a difference.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on clear goals such as easing panic, improving self-esteem, or finding ways to cope after a loss. Conversations are direct and aimed at usable strategies rather than long theory talks. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, one of her primary methods, is used to spot unhelpful thinking and try new ways of responding.
She also helps people dealing with addiction, anger, workplace stress, and communication problems. Practical tools and homework ideas are common parts of the work. Shirley has long experience with grief, hospice and end-of-life concerns, and forgiveness work.
She supports people adjusting to major life changes and those feeling isolated or stuck. Family and relationship issues are addressed through improving communication and boundaries. Many clients come for help with career direction, motivation, and managing panic attacks.
Shirley emphasizes empowerment and courage, and she invites clients to bring their own knowledge of what works for them. The focus stays on small, doable changes that build confidence over time.
How CBT and practical therapy work online
Shirley uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try more useful responses. CBT sessions focus on specific problems like panic attacks, low mood, anxiety, or workplace stress and include exercises to try between sessions.Sessions are collaborative and goal-focused. Shirley will work with each person to choose methods that fit their needs and preferences. Together they set clear steps and adjust the plan as progress is made, so the approach can change if something isn’t working.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is helpful when visual cues and detailed discussion matter. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text messaging offer a way to stay in touch between longer sessions and to fit support into busy days.
This mix of methods helps people access care from varied schedules and locations within Pennsylvania while still using practical CBT tools and clear, actionable steps.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Shirley commonly address?
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
What kind of experience does she bring?
Where is Shirley licensed to practice?
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Can she work with people outside the United States?
What session formats are available?
How are fees and getting started handled?
Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
Also works with
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Communication problems
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Family conflicts
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Isolation / loneliness
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Relationship issues
- Self-love
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 40 years
- Licensed
- Pennsylvania
- Languages
- English