William Shonts
A steady, individualized approach to growth
LPC-MHSP Tennessee
- Experience
- 22 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Stress, Anxiety, Family, Depression
- Approaches
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
- Languages
- English
About William
William Shonts is a licensed counselor in Tennessee with 22 years of clinical experience guiding people through stress, anxiety, family conflict, depression, and major life transitions.
Background and approach
He holds the LPC-MHSP credential, which indicates licensure to provide mental health services in Tennessee, and relies on a compassionate, respectful approach to understand each person's situation before shaping a plan of care. His work emphasizes collaboration and customization; conversations and interventions are adapted to reflect a client's circumstances and goals.
William draws on evidence-based methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy along with client-centered skills to address mood concerns, communication problems, caregiver strain, compassion fatigue, and related issues like attachment difficulties or challenges associated with adoption and foster care.
He aims to help people summon the courage to pursue more satisfying, healthier lives while offering steady support and practical strategies. Whether someone is coping with grief related to cancer, navigating dissociation, or managing codependency and control issues, William commits to tailoring treatment to meet individual needs and to foster durable coping skills.
How therapeutic methods translate to online care
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; online CBT sessions often include practical skill-building, thought records, and homework to manage anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathetic listening and collaboration, creating a space where clients feel heard and can explore emotions at their own pace, which adapts well to conversational formats like video or live chat. Dialectical Behavior Therapy combines acceptance and change strategies and teaches concrete skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, useful for managing intense emotions and relational challenges.
Deciding which approach fits best is a collaborative process. The therapist will work with the client to review needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting techniques over time so care reflects what is most helpful for that person.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase accessibility and scheduling flexibility. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care during life transitions, accommodate different comfort levels with technology, and integrate skill practice between sessions while still drawing on the chosen therapeutic approaches.
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
22+ years
Licensed
Tennessee
Languages
English