Dr. Shirley Huisman

I am Dr. Shirley Huisman. I am a licensed social worker and my practice includes supervising social workers who are working towards their own independent licensure. I feel incredibly grateful for the fact that I love my work. I am a life long learner, and one of things I gain from my work is that I am always learning!

I have my undergraduate degree in psychology from Dordt College. I earned my MSW degree from Syracuse University, and my PhD from The University of South Carolina. I consider myself a "pracademic" - I have spent my whole career as a therapist/practitioner as well as an academic teaching in social work education. The two have fed each other in very powerful ways!

I am Mom to my grown children which whom I enjoy close loving relationships, as well as Oma to my grandchildren! My family also includes my two cats and three dogs. My cats are 17 years old, and one of them is what I have come to know as a healing cat. Whenever I have been in recovery he always comes and lays himself over whatever area of my body is hurting, and he stays there purring as long as I wll have him there.

I have been rehabilitating pit bulls since 2009, and find them to be one of the least understood breeds of dog, as well as the most likely to be abuse. They are also incredibly loyal and loving. They have helped inform my work in the area of trauma. They will always be transparent with me, and I have learned to trust what they have to share with me!

As a social worker/mental health therapist my work has been focused on trauma intertwined with mental health. I work with adults of all ages. I work virtually so that my clients can have as easy of access to me as possible.

My work is guided by a person centered humanistic approach. Valuing each person and honoring their self determination and agency is central to my work. I use a variety of approaches that I choose depending on the needs of my client.

Systems and family systems provides a framework for understanding my client and their context.

Critical theory informs my understanding of my client's experiences in relationship to power.

Developmental theory can be very useful in understanding where someone may have gotten "stuck" in their growth, as well as the strategies we can use to help move forward.

Understanding why we do what we do is critical to helping. There is always a reason for our behaviors and choices. Many times it is related to unmet needs.

I also believe that everyone has their own perspective and understanding of what they have and do experience. This does not make any particular understanding "wrong". It just means that I must learn how my clients make meaning out of what they live through.

Finally, it is through our strengths that we can work with our soft spots - those areas we want to change. Everyone has strengths, even if so far unrecognized!

I believe people can and do change! Our work together is to discover what and how they will make the change you are seeking!

My clients often talk about having 'aha' moments in our work together. They frequently experience a shift in perspective, a new awareness, or a different understanding of themselves and their situations. For many of them it becomes a matter or working differently rather than working harder. They have already been doing the "hard stuff" for way too long. It is time for a different approach.