- LGBT concerns
- Family conflict
- Parenting support
About Shiho
Shiho Murakami is a licensed social worker who helps people facing LGBT concerns, family conflict, trauma and parenting challenges. She offers direct, respectful conversation and works to make therapy feel practical and manageable. Shiho speaks English and Japanese and practices in Maryland with six years of experience as a clinician.
Shiho tailors sessions to each person's needs. She focuses on clear goals and usable skills rather than jargon. Conversations center on what is causing stress now and what small steps might ease it. She aims to help people feel more in control of daily challenges and relationships.
Her work draws from several well-known approaches. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy helps identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy supports people to notice difficult feelings while moving toward what matters to them. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current connections and reactions.
Shiho also uses client-centered principles, which means she follows the client's pace and priorities in session. For people dealing with trauma, parenting strain, or identity questions, she combines practical skill-building with relational attention. She can help with issues such as abandonment, adoption and foster care concerns, blended family stress, body image, caregiver strain, codependency, communication difficulties, substance problems, eating issues, and family of origin wounds.
When someone is ready to begin, Shiho supports creating a treatment plan that fits their life and goals. Her work emphasizes collaboration, steady progress, and clear next steps.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Shiho uses several practical therapies that translate well to remote conversation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing small behavior changes to improve mood and functioning. It is useful for anxiety, low mood, and patterns that keep causing problems. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, teaches people to notice difficult feelings without getting stuck and to take steps toward what matters most. This approach can help with identity strain, stress, and parenting challenges. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current reactions and connections, and it helps people change patterns in close relationships and communication.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shiho will collaborate with each person to choose methods that match their goals, values, and pace. She aims to make decisions together, adjusting techniques as progress is made and new priorities emerge.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so please confirm current options before booking. Online work can make therapy easier to fit into a busy day, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Talking over distance also makes it simpler to keep continuity when schedules shift, and it still supports goal-setting, skill practice, and relational work when paired with focused tasks between sessions.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Shiho commonly help with?
Shiho helps people with LGBT-related issues, family conflict, trauma and abuse, parenting worries, and self-esteem. She also addresses related areas like adoption and foster care, attachment issues, blended family problems, and substance or eating-related concerns.
How would you describe her therapeutic style?
She blends practical skill-building with a client-centered approach that follows each person's pace. Expect a focus on clear goals, behavior change tools, and attention to relationship patterns.
What is her professional background?
Shiho has six years of clinical experience working with a range of concerns including trauma, parenting, and identity-related issues. Her practice emphasizes respect, sensitivity, and collaborative planning.
What credentials and location are listed for this therapist?
Shiho holds LICSW and LCSW-C credentials and practices in Maryland. The LICSW is registered in the District of Columbia and the LCSW-C is in Maryland as noted.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Japanese.
Are international clients accepted for therapy?
Shiho is not currently accepting international clients.
How does billing and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps should I take to start working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.