Shama Joshi

Shama Joshi is an LCSW practicing in Illinois with nine years of clinical experience. She works with adults who feel stuck during life changes, dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, and questions about purpose. Sessions focus on what is happening now and practical steps forward.

Joshi uses several evidence-informed approaches to help people notice patterns and try new ways of responding. She draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to clarify values and create small behavioral changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify unhelpful thinking and test different beliefs. Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills may be introduced for emotion regulation and distress tolerance.

Her work often attends to attachment issues and the effects of adoption or foster care histories. She also addresses concerns related to aging, caregiving strain, body image, communication problems, and neurodiversity such as autism and ADHD. The focus stays on concrete coping strategies and clearer decision-making rather than on labels alone.

In sessions, she helps people talk through relationship communication, commitment questions, and the strain that life transitions create. She also supports people facing divorce, blended family challenges, or the aftermath of disasters. The aim is to create steady, manageable changes that fit daily life.

Joshi brings attention to cultural and identity factors that shape each person's options. People who want practical tools for stress, clearer priorities, and more confidence in next steps may find her approach a good match.

How her approaches translate to online sessions

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy helps people clarify what matters to them and take small committed actions that reflect those values. It is useful when someone feels directionless after a big change or is uncertain about next steps. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and experimenting with different behaviors to see what shifts mood and confidence. It often helps with anxiety, depression, and decision-making.

Choosing the best approach is part of the work together. The therapist and client discuss goals, try methods, and adjust based on what fits the person's needs and preferences. This collaborative process helps make sessions practical and focused on short-term and longer-term aims.

Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a workday, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. If you want to explore ACT or CBT techniques in a way that suits your routine, discuss scheduling preferences and format when you complete the matching questionnaire.