- Stress and anxiety
- Leadership coaching
- Practical coping skills
About John
John Shovels is a licensed social worker (LMSW) who focuses on supporting adults dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and men’s issues. He offers leadership coaching and development alongside therapy. John writes and speaks plainly, aiming to help people understand patterns and make practical changes in daily life.
He brings 15 years of hands-on clinical practice to sessions. John uses short metaphors, occasional humor, and visual examples to make ideas easier to grasp. He emphasizes coping skills that fit into busy schedules and prefers simple, actionable steps clients can try between meetings.
In sessions he helps people name difficult emotions, look at how past patterns affect today, and build new habits. He works on communication problems, codependency, fatherhood concerns, grief, and career or life-purpose questions. He also addresses mood disorders, panic attacks, and challenges tied to relationships and intimacy.
John uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Solution-Focused Therapy to guide his work. He tailors these methods to each person’s goals rather than following a single formula. Sessions aim to strengthen coping, reduce distress, and increase clarity about next steps.
Clients in Michigan who prefer direct, practical guidance may find his style a good match. He conducts his work in English and does not take international clients. To begin, people choose the Start Therapy button and complete a short matching questionnaire.
How John’s Approaches Fit Online Work
John often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, panic, and practical mood changes. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) offers skills for managing strong emotions and improving how people handle stress and conflict. Motivational Interviewing helps when people feel stuck and want to strengthen their own reasons for change.Finding the right approach is part of the work. John will talk with each person about goals and preferences and then suggest what methods to try. That choice is collaborative and can change over time as progress or new needs appear.
Confirm the available session formats before booking, since the profile does not list specific options. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules call for it. It can also let someone keep continuity of care across job or life changes. Conversations about approach, scheduling, and how to use sessions practically are part of the first few meetings so sessions match daily life and goals.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Credentials
Michigan
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he address?
He helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, substance misuse, and men’s issues, plus related topics like grief, communication problems, and career questions.
What is his therapeutic style?
Sessions are straightforward and practical, using metaphors and occasional humor to clarify problems and practiceable skills.
How much clinical experience does he have?
He has 15 years of experience working as a therapist and holds the LMSW credential.
Where is he located and licensed?
He practices in Michigan and holds the LMSW credential as listed in his profile.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English only.
Can people from other countries work with him?
He is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are costs and billing handled?
Session cost varies by location and therapist availability; services use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to begin therapy?
Choose the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.