Patrick Shanahan, LCSW

Patrick Shanahan is a licensed clinical social worker with 44 years of experience who helps people facing relationship strain, grief, anxiety, addiction, and life transitions. He focuses on practical steps that help people move forward. Sessions are straightforward and aimed at unraveling what keeps someone stuck and building clearer direction.

He believes people are often self-correcting but can get stuck for many reasons. Patrick pays close attention to a person’s values to help find direction and workable solutions. He draws on a wide study of religions and cultures to understand different worldviews.

Early in his career he created and ran an outpatient clinic connected to a runaway and homeless youth shelter. For 18 years he provided case management, individual work, and family therapy both in the shelter and in community settings. He also trained and supervised staff and graduate students during that time.

He later completed 29 hours toward a Ph.D. in family therapy and was offered a fellowship at Washington University’s Ph.D. program. Patrick spent 18 years working for managed care, helping members use mental health benefits, and providing phone therapy and crisis intervention.

His approach mixes brief family work, problem solving, structural and strategic systems ideas, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral methods, communication-focused techniques, and addiction therapies. Patrick practices in Missouri and works with both individuals and couples to address practical concerns and real-life stresses.

How these approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them and take small committed steps toward those values. It can be useful for anxiety, depression, and life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and testing new behaviors, which often helps with anxiety, depression, and stress. Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) concentrates on patterns in close relationships and rebuilding emotional connection, which can be helpful for couples and intimacy issues.

Choosing the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work with the client to identify goals, test what helps, and adjust methods as needed. That collaborative process means approaches may change as priorities become clearer.

The biography does not specify which online session types are offered, so confirm current options before booking. Many people find online therapy fits into busy days by removing travel time and letting them schedule sessions around work or family demands. Online work can also make it easier to continue regular check-ins during relocations or when managing caregiving responsibilities. Ask about available formats when you begin the intake process so sessions can be planned to fit your routine.