Shirley is an incredible therapist, always there, checking in and researching new courses of help for those in need. I highly recommend her!
Shirley Ankrom-Smith, LPC
Experienced mental health professional
Provides online counseling through BetterHelp
At a glance
Shirley is an experienced, licensed Mental Health Professional who specializes in affordable online therapy offered through our partner, BetterHelp.
- 5.0 stars
- Clients are very satisfied with Shirley. View 10 reviews
- Speaks English
- Offers Telehealth visits
- Licensed in Missouri
Recent reviews
She is simply awesome!
More about Shirley
- 15 years' experience
- Female
- LPC
Welcome and Hello! My name is Shirley and I am a licensed Professional Counselor in the state of Missouri. I have 14 years of experience as an educator and school counselor in grade five through 12. I have 15 years of experience as a Professional Mental Health Therapist. I understand that it can be a challenging step to seek help. I am proud of you for reaching out to find some stability and/or guidance in resolving your issue or concern. As we work together, I hope to help you evaluate and resolve your doubts, fears, or concerns. I hope to empower you to have the strength to feel confident in voicing your desired expectations to me and to others in your life. We will utilize various tools to help build confidence and I will be your greatest advocate as you navigate your path towards renewed pride, courage, compassion, self-worth and/or setting boundaries. Do you want a change or peace? Please contact me!
I work with adolescents and adults. I work primarily with Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Reality Therapy Modalities. Individual therapy, couples therapy, and family therapy are available. I am here to help you work on Behavioral Issues, Career Counseling, Adolescent, Chronic Pain, Codependency, Coping Skills, Depression/Stress/Anxiety, Grief, Parenting, Relationship Issues, School Issues, Self Esteem, Self-Harm, Trauma Issues, and Women's Issues.
I genuinely understand the many challenges of life. It is hard sometimes, but no one should have to navigate life alone, depressed, or mentally compromised due to feeling lost or detached from one’s self and the ones we call our friends and family. "I don't feel like myself" is a common statement I hear. There are tools to use to redirect feelings/thoughts. Please contact me if you would like to talk. I am here to help!
Specialties
Stress
Anxiety
Relationship issues
Family conflicts
Grief
Parenting issues
LGBT
Trauma and abuse
Intimacy-related issues
Eating disorders
Anger management
Self esteem
Career difficulties
Depression
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
ADHD
Abandonment
Attachment issues
Caregiver issues and stress
Chronic pain illness and disability
Codependency
Divorce and separation
Family Problems
Guilt and shame
Isolation / loneliness
Post-traumatic stress
Self-love
Women's issues
Treatment Approaches
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Solution-Focused Therapy
Licenses
Shirley Ankrom-Smith's National Provider Identifier (NPI) is 1235207689.
- LPC · Missouri · 2005003223 · Expires June 2025
About online counseling
- Affordable.
- Pay a low flat fee.
- Convenient.
- Do it at your own time and at your own pace. Communicate whenever you feel it's needed.
- Available now.
- There is no waiting list and no calls to make. Simply fill out a short questionnaire and send your first message.
Online counseling, also known as teletherapy, is a method of delivering mental health services through digital means such as video conferencing, phone calls, or messaging platforms. It can be an ideal option for individuals who have difficulty accessing traditional therapy due to geographical distance, time constraints, or personal preferences like privacy and comfort. Many people find it easier to open up from the familiarity of their own space. Teletherapy has been found to be highly effective, with studies showing that it can produce similar outcomes to in-person therapy, particularly for issues like anxiety, depression, and PTSD. The flexibility and accessibility it offers make it a valuable alternative to conventional therapy settings.
Reviews for Shirley Ankrom-Smith
All reviews have been submitted by clients after seeing the provider.
Overall rating:
Shirley is an incredible therapist, always there, checking in and researching new courses of help for those in need. I highly recommend her!
She is simply awesome!
She’s very acknowledge to my concerns of my feelings very active in making suggestions to better myself
Thank you for all you have done! Your help is greatly appreciated!
Shirley has been very helpful in my journey as a new single mom. She provides great tips and resources and shares helpful solutions at each session. I appreciate her support!
I love her. She’s so easy to talk to, attentive, very quick to respond, and cares. Her ability to ask questions in a way that it’s just a conversation has helped me learn so much about myself. If I lived closer to her office, I would absolutely do in person visits. She’s very understanding, judgement free, and kind.
She’s wonderful, very attentive and active in the situations I open up to her about. She also allows me to make my progress with a gentle nudge in the right direction but doesn’t tell me exactly what to do, letting me figure out the way that works best for me without needing to rely on someone to spoon feed me the answers. Really helping me to grow within myself and giving me the strength to make the right changes in my life.
I very much appreciate Shirley’s observations and suggestions. She listens and helps me identify and work through my struggles.
She is a perfect go-to person for people that want to work on developing long-term solutions. It's nice to not be judged and to feel like you have a teammate at your side.
Love her!
Frequently asked questions
Does Shirley Ankrom-Smith offer telehealth visits?
Yes. Shirley Ankrom-Smith works with clients by exchanging messages, chatting live, speaking over the phone, or video conferencing based on what works for the client at that particular time.
What language(s) does Shirley Ankrom-Smith speak?
Shirley Ankrom-Smith speaks English.
How many years of experience does Shirley Ankrom-Smith have?
Shirley Ankrom-Smith has 15 years of experience.
Where is Shirley Ankrom-Smith licensed to practice?
Shirley Ankrom-Smith is licensed to practice in Missouri.
Does Shirley Ankrom-Smith accept clients outside of the United States?
No, Shirley Ankrom-Smith does not accept clients outside of the United States.
Is online therapy as effective as in-person therapy?
Numerous studies support the effectiveness of online platforms in facilitating life changes. For instance, research published by JMIR Publications, conducted by teams from the University of Berkeley, UCSF, and SF General Hospital, found that "users of BetterHelp experienced significantly reduced depression symptom severity after engaging with the platform."
What treatment approaches does Shirley Ankrom-Smith offer?
Shirley Ankrom-Smith offers clients Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT), and Solution-Focused Therapy.
How can I communicate with Shirley Ankrom-Smith?
Shirley Ankrom-Smith can be engaged in any one of four ways: (1) Exchanging messages, (2) chatting live, (3) speaking over the phone, or (4) video conferencing. You can use different ways at different times as you wish, based on your needs, availability, and convenience.
How do I get started with Shirley Ankrom-Smith?
Just tap the CHAT NOW button or tap here: A new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation. Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.
Mental health conditions are real, common, and treatable.
And recovery is possible.
When you tap CHAT NOW a new window will open and you'll be directed to a simple form that will help start the conversation.
Please note: It can take up to a few days to be matched to a therapist.