- Client-centered approach
- Cognitive behavioral tools
- Mindfulness techniques
About Shari
Shari Peterson is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) in Minnesota with 20 years of experience in mental health. She has worked in community mental health, school settings, and outpatient care. She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD, addictions, and relationship and family concerns among other issues.
Shari has provided therapy to individuals across a wide array of difficulties. Her background includes work with substance use, personality-related challenges, anger, and the effects of complex trauma and domestic violence. She also addresses eating and sleeping problems, bipolar symptoms, and struggles with self-esteem.
Her approach is centered on the person in front of her. She combines client-centered listening with practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness. She also draws on narrative ideas and motivational interviewing to help people clarify goals and make changes.
In sessions she focuses on how patterns from a person’s family of origin, attachment experiences, and early relationships can continue to affect current behavior and feelings. She pays attention to communication problems, codependency, control issues, and the ways family roles shape coping and expectations.
Shari aims for straightforward, relational work that balances listening with skill-building. She supports people dealing with chronic illness and pain, body image concerns, dissociation, and co-occurring conditions. People looking for help with family of origin issues or persistent relationship patterns may find her approach practical and direct.
Therapeutic approaches and working online
Shari uses client-centered therapy, which focuses on listening carefully and following the person’s lead to understand their concerns and goals. This approach helps people feel heard and keeps the work grounded in their own priorities.She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and to build practical skills for managing anxiety, mood, and sleep. Mindfulness methods are used alongside CBT to teach simple attention and grounding practices that reduce stress and improve focus.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the work. The therapist and client look at goals, preferences, and what has or has not helped before, then agree on a plan that may draw from these methods. This is a collaborative process and adjustments can be made over time.
Confirm current session options before booking, as specific formats are not listed in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. They can also let someone choose audio-only contact when that better fits their circumstances.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Minnesota
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, ADHD, relationship and family concerns, and related issues such as sleep, eating, anger, and bipolar symptoms.
How would you describe her therapy style?
She uses a person-centered, relational style that pairs listening with practical techniques from CBT, mindfulness, narrative work, and motivational interviewing.
How much experience does she have?
She has 20 years working in mental health settings, including community mental health, schools, and outpatient treatment.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) licensed in Minnesota and practices from that state.
Does she offer sessions in other languages?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can international clients work with her?
She does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions scheduled and paid for?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.