Shanita Burch , MD, LCSW-C

Shanita Burch brings more than two decades of experience in social work to her practice. She holds an MD and is licensed as an LCSW-C. Shanita focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, and other life challenges. She works with adults on relationship concerns, career stress, sleep problems, anger, and self-esteem issues.

Her background includes long-term work with people facing trauma and abuse, and she has supported service members and veterans as well. Shanita blends practical strategies with attentive listening to help clients make steady progress. She emphasizes patience and steady effort over quick fixes.

In sessions she uses a mix of talk-based approaches to fit each person’s needs. She uses client-centered methods to follow the person’s concerns, and draws on cognitive behavioral tools to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Motivational interviewing is part of her work with people facing addiction or wanting change.

Shanita aims to set clear, reachable goals and to measure progress along the way. She frames progress as whatever moves a person closer to their goals and their own sense of well-being. Her style is practical, direct, and respectful of each person’s pace.

Clients meet with her from Maryland, where she practices. Sessions are offered in English and through a range of remote formats. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability.

How therapeutic approaches work online

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following each person’s lead. The therapist reflects what matters to the client and helps them name goals and priorities. This approach is useful for people who need space to talk through feelings and decisions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the links between thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It uses practical exercises and short experiments to change unhelpful patterns and is often used for anxiety, mood, sleep, and anger concerns. Motivational Interviewing helps people who feel stuck about change by exploring ambivalence and building motivation through focused conversation.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss options, try different methods, and make adjustments based on the client’s goals and preferences. That collaborative process helps ensure sessions match what the person needs.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make care more flexible. Video offers a face-to-face feel for in-depth conversations, phone sessions can fit into tight schedules or when a quieter environment is easier, and live chat or messaging can be used for brief check-ins or continued reflection between meetings. These options help people access therapy while balancing work, family, or travel.