Works with
How Shari works
Practical facts
- Credentials
- LICSW
- Licensed in
- Minnesota
- Years in practice
- 20
- Languages
- English
- Session format
- Online, through our partner platform
About Shari
Shari Peterson is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker with two decades of experience in mental health. She has provided care in community mental health, schools, and outpatient settings, and has spent several years offering individual therapy. Shari draws on that varied background when supporting people through stress, anxiety, anger, substance use, and mood struggles.
She focuses on building a relational and strengths-based connection. Sessions tend to be warm and direct, with an emphasis on practical steps clients can try between meetings.
Background and approach
Shari treats each person as the expert on their life and works alongside them to set realistic goals. Her approach blends client-centered listening with cognitive behavioral techniques and mindfulness practices. She also uses narrative ideas and motivational interviewing to help people notice patterns and find motivation for change.
These methods can be useful for managing symptoms, shifting unhelpful thinking, and improving everyday coping. Shari has experience supporting people affected by trauma, abuse, domestic violence, and complex life circumstances. She also works with concerns such as ADHD, relationship and family problems, eating and sleeping issues, chronic illness and pain, and questions about identity and self-esteem.
People who prefer a collaborative, respectful style that combines practical tools with reflective conversation tend to find her approach helpful. Shari practices in Minnesota and conducts sessions in English.
What Shari works with
Everything Shari lists, in the therapist's own terms. Anger is the reason this directory exists; the rest tells you what usually sits alongside it in Shari's practice.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- ADHD
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Attachment issues
- Body image
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Dissociation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fertility issues
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Personality disorders
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Self-harm
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Traumatic brain injury
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Shari lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Gottman Method
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approach and online options for practical change
Shari commonly uses client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy in online work. Client-centered therapy focuses on empathetic listening and helping people clarify what matters to them, which can make it easier to set personal goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions and offers concrete skills to change unhelpful patterns, useful for anxiety, anger, and mood concerns.She also draws on mindfulness practices to help people notice bodily sensations and reduce reactivity in stressful moments. These approaches are worked through together so the best fit emerges from conversations about needs, goals, and personal preferences rather than from a single preselected method. The therapist and client decide collaboratively which tools to try and when to adjust course.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video calls allow more face-to-face interaction for skills practice. Phone sessions can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited or to fit a shorter check-in. Live chat and text-based messaging make it easier to keep connection between sessions and to share brief reflections or homework. These options increase flexibility and make it simpler to match therapy to a busy life.
Questions people ask about Shari
What issues does Shari address in sessions?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, anger, addictions, trauma and abuse, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and related issues such as body image and chronic pain.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is strengths-based, relational, warm, and person-centered, with a focus on practical steps and collaboration in session.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Shari has 20 years in the mental health field, including work in community mental health, schools, and outpatient settings, with several years focused on individual therapy.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker, MN LICSW, and practices in Minnesota.
Which languages and international options are offered?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
In what formats are sessions available?
Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to match different needs and schedules.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist arrangement; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the process to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.