I’m a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), and Certified Clinical Supervisor (CCS) based in Asheville, NC. As an OIF veteran who served in South Korea and Kuwait, I bring a unique understanding of the challenges faced by military service members and their families. I graduated with my Master of Social Work (MSW) from Western Carolina University (WCU) in 2016, and since then, I’ve gained extensive experience in community mental health, addiction treatment centers, primary care, and inpatient psychiatric hospitals. My work spans a range of issues, including addiction, grief, trauma, anxiety, ADHD, PTSD, and veterans’ concerns. My diverse background and deep passion for helping others allow me to offer compassionate, client-centered care that is tailored to each individual's needs and goals
What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?
A first session with me will feel welcoming and collaborative. I will begin with a warm introduction, focus on building rapport and helping you feel at ease. I will then gather information about your background, current concerns, and what brings you to therapy. The session will include a discussion of your goals, exploring what you hope to achieve through therapy, whether that involves coping with anxiety, processing trauma, or managing addiction. I will also explain my approach, outlining how sessions typically progress and describing any specific techniques or frameworks that might be relevant. The session would conclude with a collaborative plan for moving forward, including scheduling future sessions and discussing how to work together to meet your needs and goals.
Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.
Research shows that the therapeutic relationship between client and provider is one of the most significant factors in fostering lasting change, often outweighing the specific modality used. I believe in the power of connection and use humor, storytelling, and metaphors to build a strong, collaborative rapport with my clients. This ability to create a safe and engaging therapeutic environment is one of my greatest strengths as a clinician.
About John Shirey
Serves ages
Licensed in
Accepts
Appointments
VirtualMy treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
I use Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) to help clients stop struggling with or trying to control their thoughts, which often only amplifies distress. Instead, I guide clients to accept their thoughts and feelings without judgment, teaching them to view them as transient experiences rather than truths to be fixed. We focus on clarifying their core values and taking committed action aligned with those values, regardless of the discomfort or negative thoughts that may arise. This approach empowers clients to live more fully and authentically, fostering a sense of purpose and meaning in their lives, even in the face of uncertainty or difficult emotions.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help clients become more aware of how their thoughts influence their emotions and behaviors. I guide clients to examine the beliefs they hold about an event, helping them identify any distorted or unhelpful thinking patterns. By challenging these thoughts and exploring alternative, more balanced perspectives, clients can reduce the emotional intensity they experience in response to activating events. This process helps them break the cycle of automatic negative thinking, empowering them to respond more effectively and with greater emotional resilience.
EMDR
I use Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) to help clients process and heal from trauma by targeting the distressing memories that continue to affect their lives. Through a structured approach, I guide clients to reprocess traumatic memories while engaging in bilateral stimulation, such as guided eye movements, which facilitates the brain's natural healing processes. This helps clients reframe their traumatic experiences, reducing emotional charge and negative beliefs tied to the memories. As a result, clients are able to integrate these memories in a healthier way, leading to greater emotional resilience, improved self-esteem, and a sense of peace and closure. The process can be negatively impacted by telehealth should the client struggle with bilateral stimulation.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I use Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to help clients build crucial interpersonal skills, increase their distress tolerance, and cultivate mindfulness in their daily lives. By teaching clients effective communication strategies, such as assertiveness and boundary-setting, we work together to improve their relationships and navigate conflicts more effectively. I also focus on strengthening their ability to tolerate emotional distress without reacting impulsively, using skills like radical acceptance and self-soothing. Additionally, I guide clients in practicing mindfulness techniques to stay present and grounded, helping them become more aware of their thoughts and emotions without judgment. These skills empower clients to respond to life's challenges with greater balance, self-awareness, and emotional resilience.
Motivational Interviewing
I use Motivational Interviewing (MI) to build a strong therapeutic alliance by creating a collaborative and empathetic environment where clients feel heard, respected, and understood. Through open-ended questions and reflective listening, I help clients explore their own motivations for change, allowing them to voice their desires, concerns, and ambivalence. This approach ensures that the goals we set together are truly in the client's best interest and aligned with their values, rather than imposed externally. By fostering autonomy and encouraging self-directed change, MI empowers clients to commit to meaningful goals and increase their intrinsic motivation for personal growth.