LICSW, MD, LCSW-C
Shiho Murakami, LICSW, MD, LCSW-C
- Experience6 years
- LocationMaryland
- Focus areasLGBT, Family, and Trauma and abuse
- Therapy approachesInternal Family Systems and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- LanguagesEnglish and Japanese
Review online therapy options and next steps on BetterHelp.
About Shiho
Shiho Murakami is a licensed social worker practicing in Maryland who focuses on supporting people facing LGBT matters, family conflicts, trauma and abuse, parenting challenges, and self-esteem concerns.
Background and approach
With six years of clinical experience and licenses in both Maryland and the District of Columbia, she works to create a supportive environment where clients feel respected and heard. She draws on a range of evidence-informed methods and adapts conversations and treatment plans to each person’s needs.
Her work emphasizes sensitivity and compassion while helping clients explore patterns that affect relationships, coping, and well-being. Shiho aims to empower clients to take steps toward change, offering practical tools and collaborative guidance as they pursue more fulfilling and healthier lives.
Integrating therapeutic approaches for effective online care
Internal Family Systems (IFS) emphasizes understanding internal parts and how they relate to a person’s core self, helping people explore internal conflicts and heal wounded parts; this approach can be useful for trauma, attachment wounds, and patterns that repeat in relationships. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) combines acceptance strategies with values-driven action to reduce avoidance and increase psychological flexibility, often helping with anxiety, self-esteem, and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns formed in early relationships and works to improve relational safety and emotional regulation, supporting people dealing with family conflict, caregiving stress, or parenting concerns.Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey and Shiho approaches that choice collaboratively. She will work with each client to identify goals, try methods that suit their preferences, and adjust techniques as progress and needs evolve. This collaborative process helps tailor interventions to what actually helps the individual move forward.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into busy schedules and to maintain continuity when life feels unpredictable. These formats allow licensed professionals to deliver goal-focused work, skill-building exercises, and reflective dialogue in ways that match a client’s communication style and availability.
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Shiho commonly help with?
She works with people facing LGBT issues, family conflict, trauma and abuse, parenting difficulties, and self-esteem problems, along with related areas such as attachment issues and substance concerns.
What style of therapy can I expect?
The approach is collaborative and client-centered, drawing on interventions from ACT, CBT, DBT, motivational interviewing, and attachment-informed work to match each person’s needs.
How much clinical experience does the therapist have?
Shiho has six years of professional experience working with diverse clinical concerns in the Maryland and District of Columbia area.
What are the therapist’s credentials and location?
She holds LICSW and LCSW-C licensure as well as an MD credential, with licensure details listed as DC LICSW LC200001939 and MD LCSW-C 23159, and practices in Maryland.
Which languages are available for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Japanese to accommodate clients who prefer either language.
In what formats are sessions offered?
Shiho provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different scheduling and communication needs.
How are costs handled for sessions?
Fees vary based on location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Additional focus areas
AbandonmentAdoption and foster careAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceDrug and alcohol addictionEating and food-related issuesFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexualitySmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family Systems
Experience
6+ years
Licensed
District of Columbia, Maryland
Languages
English, Japanese