Profile / United States
John Shovels, LMSW
Michigan
LMSW - Depression and Anxiety focus
See online therapy options- CBT based techniques
- DBT skills practice
- Coaching and leadership
About John
John Shovels is an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) with 15 years working as a therapist in Michigan. He focuses on concerns such as depression, anxiety, substance misuse, and men’s issues, and also offers leadership coaching and development. He works with adults who want practical ways to notice patterns and try different responses.
John uses straightforward methods to help people understand what keeps problems going. He often uses short exercises, metaphors, and pictures to make ideas clearer. He aims to break big problems into small steps people can try between sessions.
His practice emphasizes thinking habits and behavior changes alongside skills for handling strong emotions. He draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy ideas to help with mood problems, panic, and coping with life changes. Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused techniques guide brief planning and goal-setting when someone needs that approach.
Sessions tend to focus on concrete skills - spotting unhelpful thoughts, testing new behaviors, and practicing coping tools. He balances problem-solving with looking at patterns that come from family of origin, codependency, or communication problems. He also supports people dealing with grief, career change, intimacy questions, and fatherhood issues.
John speaks English and works with adults in Michigan. His cost structure varies by location and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time. To begin, a reader is asked to use the site button to complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How his approaches translate to online work
John commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Dialectical Behavior Therapy ideas. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and testing new behaviors through practical exercises and short experiments. It can help with anxiety, panic, mood problems, and changing patterns that keep people stuck. DBT emphasizes emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal skills; it is helpful when strong emotions and relationship patterns make daily life harder.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to choose which methods fit a person’s goals and situations. He uses Motivational Interviewing and Solution-Focused conversations when someone needs help clarifying goals and making a short plan for change.
The original biography does not list specific online session formats, so confirm what options are currently offered before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, allow shorter check-ins between in-depth work, and reduce travel time. They also let people practice skills in their usual routines, which can make homework feel more relevant and practical.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he commonly address?
He works with depression, anxiety, substance misuse, men’s issues, and related concerns such as grief, panic, and mood disorders.
How would he describe his therapeutic style?
He uses practical, skills-focused work with concrete exercises, metaphors, and short homework tasks to change thinking and behavior patterns.
What is his clinical background?
He has 15 years as a therapist and broader professional experience in social work, and he combines clinical work with leadership coaching.
What credential does he hold and where is he based?
He is an LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) practicing in Michigan.
In which language are sessions offered?
Sessions are offered in English and international clients are not accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original profile does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How does pricing work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.