Patrick Shanahan

Patrick Shanahan is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 44 years of experience helping people find more steady ground. He focuses on relationship struggles, codependency, grief, anger, anxiety, depression, and life transitions. He welcomes conversations about parenting, caregiving stress, addictions, and career concerns in a direct, down-to-earth way.

Patrick believes people are generally self-correcting and can move toward healthier choices once they get unstuck. He pays attention to each person's value system and life story to help shape practical next steps. Sessions are rooted in clear problem solving and respectful listening.

He began his career creating and running an outpatient clinic within a runaway and homeless youth shelter, providing case management, individual therapy, and family work in both shelter and community settings. For many years he trained and supervised paid staff and graduate students and partnered with a local university on research to improve therapy methods.

Later work included nearly two decades helping managed care members use mental health benefits, offering phone therapy and crisis intervention. He has also provided outpatient therapy in private and group settings, and he spent time offering professional Christian counseling in a clinic setting.

In the room Patrick uses a mix of approaches to fit the person in front of him. He draws on cognitive behavioral work, attachment ideas, emotionally-focused practices, acceptance and commitment methods, and client-centered listening. That mix is used to build clear goals, practical skills, and stronger relationships.

How Patrick's Approaches Translate to Online Work