LMFT, 12 years of experience
Hi there, I'm Shirley! Do you ever feel like your emotions are a bit too much to handle? Are you facing challenges in your relationships, at work, or with your health? It’s common to struggle with being kind to yourself, and feelings of loneliness can really weigh you down. If you relate to any of these experiences, I warmly encourage you to reach out. Together, we can explore what has been holding you back and embark on an extraordinary journey toward restoring your inner balance. Our approach will be holistic, focusing on nourishing your mind, body, and spirit. We’ll develop personalized strategies to address the root causes of your struggles while helping you build a stronger connection with yourself and cultivate meaningful relationships. Whether you're dealing with stress, unresolved issues from the past, or persistent anxiety and depression, I’m here to support you every step of the way. Seeking therapy is a brave and valuable choice, and you truly deserve a safe space to heal and thrive. In our sessions, I will meet you with warmth and utilize evidence-based techniques to empower you in overcoming the challenges that stand in your way. Let’s embark on this transformative journey together!
In our first session together, we will begin our journey towards your success. We'll start with introductions and then discuss the challenges you are facing. Together, we will create a personalized plan to help you overcome these obstacles. I am confident that with dedication and perseverance, you will achieve the healing you seek.
My greatest strength is my ability to listen, empathize, and build rapport, ultimately bringing hope to my clients' lives. I have more than 12 years of experience with various clients who have dealt with trauma, depression, anxiety, and grief. I also have extensive experience with neurodivergent clients, such as those diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
I truly believe in the work I do with individuals who have experienced trauma. My clients are motivated to heal from their past experiences and improve their lives. I also have a strong passion for working with people on the Autism Spectrum Disorder, as this is an underserved population that I am dedicated to helping.
Shirley Duarte offers therapy covered by Santa Clara Family Health Plan - Medi-Cal in California.
As a therapist, I am dedicated to providing the highest quality of therapy. I have acquired knowledge and experience from various therapeutic modalities, and I continuously update my skills and interventions to offer the most effective treatment. Eclectic therapy is not a single, specific type of therapy; rather, it is an approach to psychotherapy. Therapists who use an eclectic approach draw techniques and principles from multiple therapeutic models and theories, including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Psychodynamic Therapy, and Humanistic Therapy. Instead of strictly adhering to one school of thought, eclectic therapists select and combine methods they believe are best suited to meet the unique needs, challenges, and personality of each individual client. The core idea is flexibility—tailoring the treatment to the specific person rather than forcing the person into a predefined therapeutic structure.
EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a powerful treatment method that helps individuals process and heal from traumatic experiences. My experience with EMDR has been transformative, both personally and professionally. I have witnessed my clients significantly reduce the intensity of their distressing memories and develop healthier coping mechanisms. In my practice, I utilize EMDR by first creating a safe and supportive therapeutic environment. Together, we identify target memories, and then, through bilateral stimulation—such as eye movements, tapping, or auditory tones—we facilitate the brain's natural processing abilities. This process allows clients to reprocess traumatic events, integrate adaptive beliefs, and ultimately experience relief from distressing symptoms.
The body-centered approach to psychotherapy emphasizes the connection between the mind and body. This approach is based on the idea that experiences such as trauma, stress, and emotional pain can manifest physically, becoming "stored" in the body's nervous system, muscles, and posture. I employ various techniques, which may include breathwork, movement, focusing on physical sensations, and gentle touch, to help individuals become more aware of their internal bodily sensations, a process known as interoception. The ultimate aim is to assist in processing and releasing stored tension, regulating the nervous system, and alleviating symptoms of trauma, leading to improved emotional and physical well-being.
The mind-body approach is a clinical framework that recognizes the powerful, inseparable connection between a person's mental/emotional state and their physical health. My understanding, based on extensive training data, is that this approach treats the mind and body as a single, integrated system. The interplay between thoughts and emotions, and their reciprocal effects on the body, is central to this method. For example, chronic stress (a mental state) can directly lead to physical problems like high blood pressure, digestive issues, and a weakened immune system. Conversely, a physical condition like chronic pain can lead to anxiety and depression. The goal of mind-body therapy is to use this two-way street to promote healing.