- Stress and anxiety
- Thoughts and habits
- Practical coping skills
About William
William Shonts is a licensed counselor in Tennessee with 22 years of professional experience. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and tough life transitions. He emphasizes respectful, sensitive care and works to match conversations and plans to each person’s needs.
William builds a straightforward, collaborative relationship. He listens first, then helps people set small, usable goals. Sessions center on practical changes in thoughts and everyday habits that affect mood and behavior. He aims to make steps feel doable rather than overwhelming.
Over two decades he has supported people through family conflict, caregiver strain, compassion fatigue, and the emotional side of illness or life changes. He also addresses attachment and abandonment concerns, adoption and foster care issues, and challenges such as dissociation or body image worries. His practice covers a wide range of interpersonal and emotional difficulties.
William draws on several approaches to guide his work. He uses Client-Centered techniques to follow each person's pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thinking patterns. Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills offer practical tools for managing strong emotions.
People who come to him can expect a calm, respectful space to talk through problems and try new ways of coping. He individualizes the plan to match goals and daily routines. Taking that first step is often the hardest part, and he stays alongside clients as they work toward change.
William builds a straightforward, collaborative relationship. He listens first, then helps people set small, usable goals. Sessions center on practical changes in thoughts and everyday habits that affect mood and behavior. He aims to make steps feel doable rather than overwhelming.
Over two decades he has supported people through family conflict, caregiver strain, compassion fatigue, and the emotional side of illness or life changes. He also addresses attachment and abandonment concerns, adoption and foster care issues, and challenges such as dissociation or body image worries. His practice covers a wide range of interpersonal and emotional difficulties.
William draws on several approaches to guide his work. He uses Client-Centered techniques to follow each person's pace. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify unhelpful thinking patterns. Mindfulness and Dialectical Behavior Therapy skills offer practical tools for managing strong emotions.
People who come to him can expect a calm, respectful space to talk through problems and try new ways of coping. He individualizes the plan to match goals and daily routines. Taking that first step is often the hardest part, and he stays alongside clients as they work toward change.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAntisocial personalityAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily problemsForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksParanoiaPersonality disordersPhobiasPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressSelf-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSexualitySocial anxiety and phobiaYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingSolution-Focused Therapy
Experience
22+ years
Credentials
Tennessee
Languages
English
How therapeutic approaches guide online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the person's lead. The therapist offers empathy and reflects what matters to the client so they can set their own goals and move at a comfortable pace.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and habits connect. It uses straightforward exercises to identify unhelpful thinking and practice alternative responses, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides concrete skills for handling intense emotions and improving communication. It includes techniques for distress tolerance and emotional regulation that can be practiced between sessions.
Finding the right approach is a shared process. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and daily routines to decide which methods to emphasize. This collaborative plan can change as needs shift over time.
Confirm the current online session options before booking, since formats were not specified in the biography. Many people find online sessions help fit therapy into their routine by reducing travel time, making it easier to schedule during a work break, or allowing a shorter check-in when needed. Licensed professionals can adapt CBT, DBT, and Client-Centered work to an online setting to focus on thoughts and everyday habits in practical ways.
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, family conflict, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue, along with a broader set of related issues.
What is his therapy style like?
His approach is respectful and practical. He listens first, then helps people set small goals and practice new ways of thinking and behaving.
How much experience does he have?
He has 22 years of professional experience working with emotional and interpersonal concerns in Tennessee.
What are his credentials and location?
He holds the LPC-MHSP credential and is licensed in Tennessee.
Can I see him if English is not my first language?
Sessions are offered in English and he accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not list specific session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How are fees handled?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with him?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.