- Client-centered focus
- Skill-based tools
- Practical support
About Shelia
Dr. Shelia Williamson Collins is a licensed professional counselor with 18 years of clinical experience. She practices in North Carolina and brings a calm, patient approach when people first reach out for help. She believes listening is the first step and focuses on hearing each person’s story before moving forward.
Dr. Collins uses straightforward methods to help people manage anxiety, stress, mood changes, and problems with substance use. She often draws on Client-Centered Therapy to keep the work focused on each person's goals. She also uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) tools to teach coping skills and change unhelpful patterns.
Her background includes work in inpatient psychiatric care, outpatient clinics, community mental health services, and residential substance treatment. That range has shaped a practical style that emphasizes skills practice and clear steps people can use between sessions. She has a PhD in General Psychology and earlier degrees in community counseling and psychology.
In sessions she listens first, then helps people set small, realistic goals. That can mean learning ways to manage anger, reducing substance use, or building routines to stabilize mood. She also addresses parenting stress, communication problems, grief, and concerns around intimacy and identity.
Dr. Collins aims to collaborate on a plan that fits each person's life. If weekly sessions are preferred, she requests clients say so when they begin so scheduling can be discussed.
How client-centered and skills-based work translates online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client's lead. The therapist creates space for people to tell their story and then works from the concerns they raise. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) teaches practical ways to change thinking and behavior that contribute to mood and anxiety problems. CBT is useful for managing stress, depression, and many mood disorders.Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and better interpersonal skills. It is often helpful for strong emotions, self-soothing, and impulse-related problems such as process addictions. Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process; the therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences.
Session format details are not specified here, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, shorten check-ins when needed, and allow skill practice at home between meetings. Licensed professionals can guide which strategies to focus on and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Illinois, North Carolina, Alaska
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
She focuses on stress, anxiety, addictions, trauma and abuse, anger, depression, LGBT concerns, relationship and family issues, grief, intimacy-related issues, eating concerns, parenting, self esteem, bipolar disorder, and coping with life changes.
What is the therapist's style in sessions?
Her style is person-centered, meaning she listens and builds the work around the client's goals. She combines that listening with practical CBT and DBT techniques to teach coping skills and behavior changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 18 years of experience working in a range of behavioral health settings, including inpatient psychiatry, outpatient clinics, community mental health, and residential substance treatment.
What credentials and location are on record?
She is listed with LPC and LCPC credentials and practices in North Carolina.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
Will she work with clients outside the United States?
International clients are not accepted at this time.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin therapy?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the crisis numbers.