Shirley Marks, LMFT

Shirley Marks is a licensed marriage and family therapist who focuses on practical help for people facing stress and anxiety. She has worked in Tennessee for 44 years and aims to make beginning therapy as straightforward as possible. Shirley encourages people to take the first step and recognizes how much courage that can take.

She helps people address addictions and problems that affect close relationships. That includes struggles with mood, motivation, self-esteem, and confidence. She also supports people dealing with grief, trauma and abuse, and issues connected to intimacy and sexual behavior.

In sessions she emphasizes an open space where thoughts and feelings can be shared without judgment. Conversations are direct and aimed at finding concrete ways to cope with life changes and pressures. Shirley pays attention to patterns that come from family of origin, communication problems, and codependency so clients can make different choices.

Her background includes long experience working with substance and process addictions, domestic violence concerns, and multicultural or prejudice-related stressors. She brings steady, practical guidance to problems such as career strain, eating concerns, bipolar and depressive symptoms, and guilt or shame.

People who want help with relationship conflict, forgiveness, or setting healthier boundaries often find focus in sessions. To begin, Shirley asks people to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first meeting according to availability.

Evidence-based techniques and online therapy options

Shirley uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on changing unhelpful patterns and building coping skills. One common approach involves identifying behavioral patterns that feed stress and anxiety, then practicing new responses to reduce their impact. Another method concentrates on relationship and communication skills to improve how people connect and resolve conflict.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. Shirley will collaborate with each person to pick methods that match their goals, needs, and comfort level. Together they review what is helping and what can be adjusted so therapy stays practical and relevant.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy life, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Talk with the therapist about what will work best for scheduling, pacing, and how you prefer to meet so sessions fit into everyday routines.