- CBT methods
- Client-centered talk
- Solution-focused steps
About Sheila
Sheila Askins is a Licensed Certified Social Worker in Maryland with 28 years of experience helping people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, relationship and family concerns, grief, parenting strains, anger, self-esteem, and ADHD. She uses straightforward methods to help people reduce barriers that hold them back and to improve daily functioning.
She began her career in social services focusing on families with children. Early work combined case management with counseling to stabilize family routines and access needed resources. That background shaped a practical approach to problems that affect everyday life.
Later she worked as a mental health specialist providing counseling and resources to social service recipients who struggled to find or keep employment because of mental health challenges. In that role she identified obstacles to work and used counseling and case management to address them alongside family concerns.
Substance addiction and school counseling are also part of her experience. She draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to help people change unhelpful thoughts and habits, and on client-centered and solution-focused ideas to keep sessions practical and goal-oriented.
Sessions focus on identifying specific problems, setting manageable goals, and building small habits that make a difference. She supports people who want clear steps to handle anger, reduce relapse risk, improve relationships, or regain steadiness after life changes.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building trust so clients can set their own goals. It helps when someone wants a nonjudgmental space to talk through anger or relationship strains and identify what matters most to them.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and behaviors and teaches practical skills to change them. It is helpful for managing anger, anxiety, depression, and patterns that contribute to substance use by practicing new responses and small behavioral experiments.
Solution-Focused Therapy centers on brief, goal-oriented steps clients can try between sessions. It supports people who want clear actions and measurable progress on issues like workplace frustration, parenting challenges, or coping with life changes.
Finding the right blend of approaches is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and everyday constraints, and then together they will decide which methods to try and when to adjust them.
Check the session options before booking since formats are not listed in the biography. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, shorten check-ins when needed, and offer options for people who prefer not to travel. Licensed professionals can use these approaches effectively in remote sessions, and the therapist will help match methods to a client's practical needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
28+ years
Listed in
Maryland
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, addiction, depression, relationship and family issues, grief, intimacy problems, parenting struggles, anger, self-esteem, coping with life changes, and ADHD.
Which therapeutic approaches does she use?
She uses Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), and Solution-Focused Therapy to keep work practical and goal oriented.
How much experience does she have?
She has 28 years of experience in social services, school counseling, mental health support, and substance addiction work.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds LCSW-C licensure in Maryland and practices from that state.
Does she offer sessions in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English only and international clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
Please confirm current session options before booking as the biography does not specify formats.
How are sessions billed and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.