Shirley Garcia

Shirley Garcia, MHC-LP, is a Mental Health Counselor with an MS in Mental Health Counseling from CUNY Hunter College. She offers individual therapy for children (ages 8-12), adolescents, and adults, as well as couples and family therapy.

She treats anxiety, depression, life transitions, grief, relational issues, systemic oppression, and childhood trauma, using person-centered and evidence-based methods such as CBT, solution-focused work, mindfulness, and trauma-informed counseling. With children she uses play and behavioral techniques to build emotional vocabulary.

Her Chinese American background and experience in an interracial marriage inform a culturally sensitive approach; she collaborates with clients to create individualized plans that identify and modify unhelpful beliefs and behaviors. Shirley emphasizes curiosity, empathy, and empowerment to support emotional health and stronger relationships.