Shaakira McMillon

Shaakira McMillon is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) in California with seven years of clinical experience. She works with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, self-esteem struggles, coping with life changes, compassion fatigue, addictions, relationship and intimacy concerns, eating issues, parenting strain, and challenges related to bipolar disorder. She also lists life purpose and coaching among her areas of focus. Her approach is practical and conversational. She uses client-centered methods that let people set the pace and focus. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is used to identify and shift patterns of thinking and behavior. Motivational Interviewing supports people who want to make changes but feel unsure about how to start. Shaakira integrates mindfulness practices to help people notice patterns in their thoughts and bodies. Narrative therapy is used to help reframe personal stories and clarify values. Sessions often include goal-setting and small, actionable steps that can be tried between meetings. She brings experience with caregiver stress, chronic illness and pain, family-of-origin issues, fertility and cancer-related concerns, aging and geriatric issues, and communication or control problems. That background informs practical strategies for everyday life and responsibilities. Sessions are conversational and focused on immediate concerns and next steps. Shaakira encourages clients to identify meaningful goals and to experiment with techniques that fit their routine. People interested in coaching around life purpose can explore priorities and practical moves toward clearer direction.

How therapeutic approaches are used in online sessions

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client’s priorities. The therapist encourages people to describe what matters most and then works alongside them to set short-term goals and next steps. This approach helps when someone feels unsure which problem to tackle first.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks down unhelpful thoughts and behaviors into specific patterns. In online sessions this looks like identifying a thought or behavior, testing it, and practicing alternative responses between meetings. CBT is often used for anxiety, depression, and habit changes.

Mindfulness-based work helps people notice stress responses and bodily signals without judgment. Simple attentional exercises and brief practices are suggested to build awareness and calm in daily life. These techniques pair well with goal-focused work and CBT tools.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will discuss your goals, preferences, and concerns and suggest which methods to try. That plan is revisited as needed so the approach can be adjusted together.

Confirm which session formats are available before booking, since formats were not specified in the biography. Online sessions can make it easier to fit appointments into a workday, allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight, or reduce travel time. The emphasis is on practical ways to integrate therapy into everyday life rather than on a single fixed method.