William Shonts, LPC-MHSP

Tennessee · 22 years in practice

William Shonts is a licensed professional counselor (LPC-MHSP) practicing in Tennessee with 22 years of experience.

License and registration

LPC-MHSP, Tennessee: 2722 · expires October 2026
NPI: 1427191253 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 22
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About William

William Shonts is a licensed professional counselor (LPC-MHSP) practicing in Tennessee with 22 years of experience. He focuses on helping people manage stress, anxiety, depression, and the strain that comes with major life changes. He aims to treat each person with respect, sensitivity, and compassion while tailoring conversation and plans to individual needs.

He uses a mix of approaches to fit the person in front of him rather than a fixed formula.

Background and approach

Sessions are conversational and practical. William listens for what matters most and works with clients to set clear, achievable goals. Parents and caregivers often come for help with family tension, communication challenges, or the wear of caregiving duties.

He also addresses concerns such as attachment issues, abandonment, and experiences related to adoption and foster care. Other focus areas include body image, cancer-related stress, and dissociation. When emotions feel overwhelming, he draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy to look at patterns in relationships and attachment.

He also uses Client-Centered methods to center the client's experience and Cognitive Behavioral ideas to spot and shift unhelpful thinking. Mindfulness and skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy are used to build calm and better coping. William encourages people to move at their own pace and to try concrete steps between sessions.

He keeps plans straightforward so progress can be noticed. His aim is to help people regain more balance, clearer communication, and better everyday coping.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything William lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Family conflicts
Depression
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
Abandonment
Adoption and foster care
Antisocial personality
Attachment issues
Autism and Asperger Syndrome
Body image
Cancer
Caregiver issues and stress
Codependency
Communication problems
Control issues
Dependent personality
Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
Dissociation
Domestic violence
Emptiness
Family problems
Forgiveness
Guilt and shame
Impulsivity
Intellectual disability
Isolation / loneliness
Jealousy
Life purpose
Men's issues
Midlife crisis
Money and financial issues
Mood disorders
Narcissism
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Panic disorder and panic attacks
Paranoia
Personality disorders
Phobias
Postpartum depression
Post-traumatic stress
Self-harm
Self-love
Sexual assault and abuse
Sexuality
Social anxiety and phobia
Young adult issues

Approaches William names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How William blends evidence-based approaches online

William commonly draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy to look at how emotions shape close relationships and interactions, helping people notice patterns and try new ways of relating. He also uses Client-Centered Therapy to keep sessions grounded in each person's experience, offering empathy and reflection so clients feel heard and understood. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and to build practical coping strategies for anxiety, depression, and stress.

Choosing an approach is a collaborative process. William will work with clients to identify goals, try techniques, and adjust methods based on what feels most helpful. The aim is to find a mix of strategies that fit the client's needs and preferences rather than insisting on one single method.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make scheduling easier. Video is useful for face-to-face conversation and relationship work, phone calls can be lower-bandwidth or easier during a short break, and messaging or live chat can support quick check-ins or ongoing skills practice between sessions. This range of formats helps people fit therapy into busy lives and keeps continuity even when travel or location changes occur.

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Questions people ask

What concerns does William commonly help with?

He works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. He also helps with family conflict, compassion fatigue, and related issues like attachment and abandonment.

How would you describe his therapy style?

Sessions are conversational and client-focused. He blends listening with practical steps, goal setting, and skills practice tailored to each person's needs.

How much clinical experience does he have?

He has 22 years of professional experience working in counseling and related settings.

What credentials and region are listed for this therapist?

He is listed as LPC-MHSP and practices in Tennessee.

Which languages and international arrangements are supported?

Sessions are offered in English, and he accepts international clients.

What formats are available for sessions?

Sessions can be held by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.

How are fees and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.

What do I need to do to begin working with him?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

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