- Anger management
- CBT and DBT skills
- Mindfulness practice
About Sheila
Sheila Owens is an LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker in California with eight years of licensure and three decades of additional experience in mental health work as a case manager and coordinator. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, low self-esteem, life changes, and anger. Sheila also lists work around grief, trauma and abuse, parenting concerns, bipolar and LGBT issues.
Her background includes long-term roles in community mental health and activism aimed at reducing stigma around mental health. That practical experience means she is used to working with a range of adult mental health diagnoses and typical life disruptions. She draws on years of front-line practice rather than distant theory.
In sessions she uses conversational, client-centered work and evidence-based tools. Sheila names Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy among her methods alongside EMDR and mindfulness approaches. She tends to focus on clear skills and steps people can practice between meetings to manage strong emotions and feel steadier day to day.
Sheila adapts what she does to the person in front of her. She listens for what is most pressing and then suggests practical strategies, reflective talk, and skill practice. Her approach aims to reduce shame and help people regain control over reactions and relationships.
She asks people to take a small first step: complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule an initial session. Her work is aimed at adults in California who want straightforward help with anger and related stresses.
How her therapeutic approaches translate to online sessions
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so the person can make sense of their feelings. Online sessions can use that same conversational style to name triggers, reactions, and goals. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and behaviors and teaches concrete exercises to change patterns. In remote meetings Sheila can introduce thought records, behavior experiments, and short homework tasks to practice between sessions. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes emotion regulation and coping skills like distress tolerance and grounding. That work adapts well to remote sessions where skills can be taught, practiced, and then reviewed together.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Sheila will talk with each person about what feels most helpful, then try methods that match their goals and day-to-day reality. She adjusts pace and techniques as people report what works or doesn’t work for them.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. It also makes it straightforward to practice skills between meetings and to review homework together during sessions.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
California
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
Sheila works with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, low self-esteem, anger, grief, trauma, parenting issues, and related life changes.
How would she describe her therapeutic approach?
She uses client-centered talk plus practical tools from CBT and DBT, with mindfulness and EMDR available when relevant. The focus is on skills and steps people can try between sessions.
What is her experience background?
She has eight years as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and about 30 additional years working in mental health as a case manager and coordinator.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She holds an LCSW credential in California and practices with that license in the state.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can international clients work with her?
She is not accepting international clients at this time.
How does cost and payment work?
Cost varies by location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin a first session?
Start by selecting the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a first session.