William Shonts

William Shonts is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Mental Health Service Provider (LPC-MHSP) practicing in Tennessee with 22 years of experience. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and major life transitions. He aims to treat each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion while tailoring conversations to individual needs.

William emphasizes practical, straightforward work in sessions. He listens first, then helps people set clear, manageable goals. Sessions may include learning coping skills, practicing different ways to handle stressful moments, and building routines that support daily life.

His background includes long-term clinical practice across a range of concerns such as family conflict, caregiver stress, abandonment, attachment issues, and challenges related to autism and foster care. That experience informs how he structures meetings and follow-up steps.

William uses a mix of approaches including client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, dialectical behavior tools, emotionally-focused strategies, and mindfulness practices. He adapts these tools to the person in front of him rather than following a single formula.

People who prefer clear, goal-oriented sessions that still leave room for emotional work may find his style helpful. He works with adults addressing personal and relational stresses and can include family-related themes when relevant to an individual’s goals.

How these approaches translate to online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on creating a respectful, nonjudgmental space where the person leads the conversation and the therapist reflects what’s said to help build understanding. It helps when someone needs acceptance and clearer self-direction. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions and then practices concrete skills to change unhelpful patterns; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) adds skills for managing strong emotions and improving interpersonal effectiveness, which can help with intense mood swings and relationship stress.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to choose which methods to try first and will adjust as goals change. That means trying a skill, checking how it worked, and changing course when needed.

The profile does not list specific online or in-person formats, so confirm session options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into busy days, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals can use these formats to offer regular, goal-focused work that fits into everyday life.