Shiho Murakami, LICSW, LCSW-C

Shiho Murakami is a licensed clinical social worker based in Maryland who helps people facing midlife questions, family stress, trauma, and parenting strains. She speaks English and Japanese and aims to create a respectful, sensitive space where people can name what matters and take small steps forward.

Shiho works from a practical, collaborative stance. Conversations are shaped around each person's needs and goals. She focuses on listening first, then building a plan that fits daily life and real constraints. Expect clear, simple tools and steady support rather than quick fixes.

Her background includes six years of professional experience across settings that addressed LGBT concerns, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and parenting challenges. She also has work related to adoption and foster care, attachment issues, and blended family dynamics. That range informs how she understands family systems and relationship patterns.

Shiho draws on several therapeutic approaches to match what a person needs. She uses acceptance and commitment methods to clarify values, cognitive behavioral ideas to change unhelpful thinking, and attachment-based ideas to repair relationship patterns. She adapts techniques to fit each person's culture and situation.

People who choose Shiho often want practical change and steady encouragement. She emphasizes respect, compassion, and a tailored plan. To begin, she asks about what matters most and helps set manageable first steps toward a more satisfying life.

How therapy approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, or ACT, helps people get clearer about what matters to them and then commit to small actions that reflect those values. It can be useful for midlife decisions, managing low motivation, and coping with painful feelings. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on noticing and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. It is often used for anxiety, low mood, and patterns that get in the way of daily functioning. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early and current relationship patterns affect feelings of safety and closeness and helps people practice new ways of relating.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shiho will talk with each person about goals and preferences and then suggest one or a mix of methods. That decision is collaborative and can change as needs evolve.

Confirm current session options before booking since formats were not specified in the biography. Many people find online therapy helps fit sessions into busy lives by reducing travel time and allowing scheduling around work or caregiving. It can also make it easier to keep brief check-ins or use different tools between meetings. Licensed professionals can adapt ACT, CBT, or attachment-focused exercises to an online setting while focusing on what will best support each person's everyday routine.