Profile / United States
Shirley Cayko, LCSW
Montana
LCSW - Stress and mood concerns
See online therapy options- CBT methods
- Mindfulness skills
- DBT strategies
About Shirley
Shirley Cayko is a Montana-licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) with 18 years of professional experience supporting people through stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, and self-esteem concerns. She focuses on practical steps to improve daily coping and to rebuild confidence after difficult life changes. Shirley often works with people facing grief, relationship strain, mood disorders, and issues related to gender and sexual identity.
In sessions she uses straightforward conversation and problem-solving. She listens to what’s happening now and helps identify small changes that can reduce emotional overwhelm. Shirley draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to notice unhelpful thoughts and habits, and on Client-Centered and Mindfulness approaches to slow things down when feelings are intense.
She also brings skills from Dialectical Behavior Therapy when emotions feel extreme or reactive. That can mean practicing specific strategies for managing anger, distress, or impulsive behavior. For people dealing with chronic illness, caregiving stress, or end-of-life concerns, she offers concrete ways to handle daily strain.
Shirley adapts conversations to each person’s situation and goals. She emphasizes clear steps and short-term strategies as well as longer-term changes when needed. Expect a practical, steady approach that focuses on what can be done between sessions.
To begin, prospective clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session. The therapist uses a subscription model for sessions, and that subscription can be canceled at any time.
How Shirley uses practical therapies in online sessions
Shirley frequently uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. CBT sessions focus on identifying specific thoughts and testing them with straightforward experiments and new behaviors that can be practiced between meetings.She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which emphasizes listening and building an easygoing conversation so the person can set the pace and priorities. That approach helps when someone needs time to clarify values, make decisions, or recover from loss. Dialectical Behavior Therapy techniques appear when intense emotions or strong reactions cause problems; DBT offers concrete skills for distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and clearer communication.
Finding the right approach is collaborative. Shirley will discuss goals and try methods that fit the person’s needs and preferences, adjusting strategies over time. The work is practical - choosing skills to try, checking results, and then shifting direction when something is not helping.
Session formats should be confirmed before booking so you know what is currently offered. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into daily life by reducing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins when needed, and helping maintain continuity during busy periods. If you prefer a particular session length or rhythm, note that when completing the matching questionnaire so scheduling can reflect those needs.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
18+ years
Listed in
Montana
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, coping with life changes, grief, relationship problems, bipolar and depression among other concerns.
How does she typically approach therapy?
She uses practical conversation and problem-solving, drawing on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered ideas, mindfulness, and DBT strategies as needed.
How much experience does she have?
Shirley has 18 years of professional work experience supporting people with emotional and life stressors.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is an LCSW licensed in Montana and provides services from that state.
Are sessions offered in other languages or to international clients?
Sessions are offered in English and she is not accepting international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Confirm current session options before booking so you know which formats are offered for scheduling and meeting.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
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.