Dr. Freda Shipman , LCSW

Dr. Freda Shipman is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 25 years of experience. She focuses on helping people facing grief, anxiety, stress, relationship strain, career shifts, and parenting challenges. Her approach centers on listening closely and working together to find practical steps forward.

She uses straightforward methods to help people manage strong emotions and make decisions. That might include identifying unhelpful thoughts, trying small behavior changes, or focusing on immediate solutions that fit daily life. Sessions are conversational and goal oriented, with attention to each person’s values and priorities.

Dr. Shipman also brings long experience with aging and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, cancer and hospice concerns, and disability-related planning. She supports people coping with life transitions such as retirement, divorce, or changing family roles. Practical problems like money and care planning are addressed alongside emotional needs.

Her work blends Client-Centered Therapy with cognitive and solution-focused tools. She uses Motivational Interviewing to help people find motivation for change, and Internal Family Systems ideas to talk about conflicting feelings. The mix is tailored to the individual and adjusted as progress is made.

People who choose her can expect calm, direct conversations and clear next steps. Dr. Shipman practices in Virginia and draws on decades of clinical care to help clients move toward better day-to-day functioning and clearer priorities.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online care

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and building a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship. In this approach the therapist follows the client’s lead, helps clarify feelings, and supports each person in finding their own solutions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions; it can help with anxiety, stress, grief, and persistent negative thinking by teaching practical skills and small behavior changes. Motivational Interviewing is a short-term, collaborative method that helps people identify personal reasons to change and build motivation for next steps.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, needs, and preferences and then suggest approaches that fit. That plan can change over time based on what helps most, and the process is shared and adjusted together.

Online sessions are offered by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video is useful when visual cues and a deeper conversation matter. Phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Chat and messaging allow shorter check-ins, written reflections, or support between longer sessions. These options help people fit therapy into work, caregiving, or medical schedules without commuting.