IFSTherapists

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LCSW

Dr. Shari Richardson, LCSW

  • Experience15 years
  • LocationNew York
  • Focus areasStress and Anxiety, Relationship, and Family
  • Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Client-Centered Therapy
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About Shari

Dr. Shari Richardson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in New York with 15 years of experience supporting people through relationship strains, trauma, grief, addiction, mood concerns, and complex family situations including adoption and foster care.

Background and approach

She draws from an integrative set of modalities, including Internal Family Systems, cognitive behavioral work, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques to tailor care around each persons history and current challenges. Her doctoral training in social work informs a perspective that attends to both individual symptoms and the relational contexts that shape them.

Her approach centers on collaboration and practical change - helping clients name how early experiences or ongoing stressors have contributed to difficult patterns, then building skills and strategies to alter those patterns.

She recognizes that deciding to change is often easier than sustaining new ways of coping, and she aims to be a steady partner through the hard work of follow-through.

People seeking help for anxiety, parenting or family conflicts, identity and intimacy issues, career struggles, or major life transitions will find a clinician who emphasizes understanding, skill-building, and real-world problem solving.

Integrative Approaches and Online Care

Internal Family Systems (IFS) invites clients to explore the different parts of their inner life - the protective, wounded, and managerial aspects - with the aim of improving self-awareness and healing from trauma and relational wounds. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes listening, empathy, and the therapeutic relationship as the foundation for change, helping people feel seen and supported while they clarify their goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and replacing them with more adaptive patterns, which can be especially useful for anxiety, depression, and coping with life transitions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with each client to evaluate what resonates and to combine methods as needed, adjusting techniques based on goals, preferences, and progress so the plan fits the individual's needs.

Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to access care from different locations and to fit sessions into busy schedules. These formats allow licensed professionals to provide consistent therapeutic support, skill-building, and problem-solving without requiring in-person attendance.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does this therapist commonly address?
Areas of focus include stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, depression, addictions, relationship and family problems, grief, intimacy challenges, parenting issues, self-esteem, career concerns, and compassion fatigue, among other related topics.
How would you describe the therapeutic style and approach?
The practice uses an integrative, client-centered style combining Internal Family Systems, cognitive behavioral strategies, motivational interviewing, and solution-focused techniques to tailor sessions to each person's needs.
What is the clinician's background and experience level?
The therapist holds a doctorate in social work and has 15 years of clinical experience working with individuals and families facing acute and chronic life stressors.
Where is the therapist licensed and located?
The clinician is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) practicing in New York with the license NY LCSW 082121.
Are services available for non-English speakers or international clients?
Sessions are provided in English, and international clients are accepted for care.
What session formats are offered for appointments?
Clients can meet via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging depending on their preference and availability.
How are fees and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the steps to begin working together?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule an appointment according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesBlended family issuesCaregiver issues and stressCommitment issuesCommunication problemsDivorce and separationFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsForgivenessImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMood disordersMulticultural concernsPersonality disordersPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSelf-loveWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Motivational InterviewingSolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems

Experience

15+ years

Licensed

New York

Languages

English