- 44 years experience
- Focus on relationships
- Adoption and foster care
About Patrick
Patrick Shanahan, LCSW, offers calm, practical support for people facing relationship strain, grief, anxiety, depression, and life changes. He focuses on helping people notice what gets in the way, sort their values, and take small steps toward clearer choices. Patrick writes and speaks plainly in session and aims to make therapy feel usable and straightforward.
He draws on a long career in community and outpatient settings. Early on he founded and ran an outpatient clinic connected to a runaway and homeless youth shelter. For the first 18 years he provided case management, individual therapy, and family work for youth and their families both in the shelter and out in the community.
After that period he spent nearly two decades working with managed care, helping members navigate benefits and providing phone-based therapy and crisis intervention. He has also provided outpatient counseling in private settings and worked part time with a professional Christian counseling group. He completed 29 hours toward a Ph.D. in family therapy and was offered a fellowship at Washington University.
In sessions he uses familiar methods such as cognitive behavioral techniques, acceptance and commitment ideas, attachment-focused work, emotionally-focused strategies, and client-centered listening. He also draws on brief family therapy, structural and strategic systems approaches, hypnotherapy, and addiction-focused methods when they fit the person's needs.
Patrick has 44 years of experience as a licensed clinical social worker. He has worked with many cultures and value systems and asks practical questions to help people move forward. He is based in Missouri and offers services in English, including to international clients.
Approaches that translate to online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people clarify what matters most and take small, committed actions toward those values. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and life transitions where people feel stuck.Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and how they shape emotional responses. It can help with intimacy issues, communication problems, and rebuilding trust after hurt.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. Clients can expect the therapist to explain options and adapt techniques as the work evolves.
The original biography does not specify which remote session formats are used, so confirm current options when scheduling. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, shorten travel time, and allow check-ins from different locations. Some formats can be more convenient for brief follow-ups or for people who prefer not to use video, while other formats support longer, in-depth conversations. Ask about available session types and how they might suit your day-to-day life.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
44+ years
Credentials
Missouri
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Patrick address?
He helps people with relationship strain, grief, anger, self-esteem, depression, stress, anxiety, addictions, family and trauma-related concerns. Adoption and foster care questions are listed among his additional focus areas.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
Sessions are practical and straightforward, with client-centered listening and tools drawn from cognitive behavioral and acceptance-based approaches. The work emphasizes values, problem solving, and clear next steps.
What is his professional background?
Patrick has 44 years of experience. He founded and ran an outpatient clinic for a runaway and homeless youth shelter, supervised staff, did research with a university, and worked in managed care and outpatient settings.
What credentials and region are listed?
He is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, practicing in Missouri. The profile notes his MO LCSW credential.
Which languages and international arrangements are available?
Sessions are offered in English, and the profile indicates he accepts international clients.
What session formats are offered?
The original biography does not list specific session formats. Please confirm current session options with the service before scheduling.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangements. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time, so fees depend on the selected plan.
How do I begin working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability as indicated by the service.