Olivia Shuttleworth , LICSW

Olivia Shuttleworth is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW) with 33 years of professional experience, practicing in West Virginia. She began her career as a social worker in 1985 and has worked as a therapist since 1989 across a range of settings, including inpatient psychiatric units, outpatient clinics, day hospital and rehabilitation programs in the VA system, and hospice care. Her clinical work has included substantial experience with veterans as well as services for people at every stage of life - from children and adolescents to older adults.

Early roles included working as a childcare worker at an emergency shelter for children and as a DHHR-CPS worker, and she later provided therapy to seniors in both inpatient and outpatient contexts. Over the course of her career she has supported people facing eating disorders, severe mental health diagnoses, trauma and abuse, depression, anxiety, and major life transitions such as physical loss or the death of a loved one, including pet loss.

Her therapeutic toolbox draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Motivational Interviewing, and mindfulness skills to help clients build coping strategies and emotional regulation. Olivia approaches therapy with humility and a recognition that support is a core element of recovery - she is available to provide formal therapeutic support alongside the informal supports clients may already have.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Olivia Shuttleworth

Olivia integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, and Trauma-Focused Therapy into her practice. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps people identify and shift unhelpful thinking patterns and behaviors, making it useful for anxiety, depression, and many everyday challenges. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) emphasizes skills for emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness, which can be especially helpful for intense emotions and relationship difficulties. Trauma-Focused Therapy concentrates on understanding and processing traumatic experiences in ways that reduce their ongoing impact and help restore coping and functioning.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Olivia works with each client to assess needs, goals, and preferences and then tailors methods so the therapy fits the person rather than forcing a single model on every situation.

Online sessions offer practical flexibility - clients may meet by video call, connect by phone, or use live chat and text-based messaging when that format better fits their schedule or comfort level. These options make it easier to access consistent care from licensed professionals, accommodate busy lives, and maintain momentum between sessions.