Shirley Cayko, LCSW
Montana · 18 years in practice
Shirley Cayko is a licensed clinical social worker in Montana with 18 years of experience.
License and registration
- LCSW, Montana
- BBH-LCSW-LIC-803 · expires December 2026
- NPI
- 1659566495 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 18
- Languages
- English
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.
About Shirley
Shirley Cayko is a licensed clinical social worker in Montana with 18 years of experience. She focuses on practical help for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, depression, grief, or big life changes. Shirley aims to create a respectful, compassionate space where clients can begin to sort things out.
She often works with people who have faced trauma or abuse and those coping with chronic illness, caregiver strain, or end-of-life concerns.
Background and approach
She also supports people navigating identity questions, gender dysphoria, and LGBT-related issues. Communication problems, relationship difficulties, and recurring patterns like avoidance or dissociation are other areas she addresses. Shirley blends several approaches to meet each person where they are.
She uses client-centered methods to listen and build understanding. She draws on cognitive behavioral tools for changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Mindfulness and dialectical skills help with emotion regulation and staying present.
Her style is straightforward and kind. She works with each client to shape the conversation and a plan that fits real life. Shirley respects different backgrounds and life paths and adapts pace and focus based on what someone needs.
For someone taking a first step, she acknowledges that starting therapy takes courage. She encourages small, steady progress and practical strategies that can make daily life more manageable.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Shirley lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Coping with life changes
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Grief
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Avoidant personality
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Communication problems
- Dissociation
- Divorce and separation
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Gender dysphoria
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Immigration issues
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Paranoia
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Workplace issues
Approaches Shirley names
- Existential Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
How Shirley’s Approaches Translate to Online Care
Shirley integrates existential ideas and client-centered work to help people name what matters and find purpose amid life challenges. Existential therapy focuses on values, meaning, and the questions people face during major transitions, which can help with feelings of emptiness or grief. Client-centered therapy emphasizes a warm, nonjudgmental relationship where the therapist listens closely and follows the client’s lead.She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy to identify and change patterns of thinking and behavior that worsen anxiety or depression. CBT gives concrete tools for managing symptoms and building new habits. Together these approaches allow for both deep conversation about life choices and clear steps to reduce distress. Shirley treats finding the right mix as a collaborative process and will work with each person to choose methods that fit their goals and preferences.
Online formats available include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for in-depth discussions and visual cues, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is low, live chat and texting are helpful for quick check-ins or when shorter, more frequent contact is desired. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule and to keep momentum between sessions.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does Shirley commonly address?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, and coping with life changes. She also works with issues such as relationship strain, self-esteem, anger, bipolar concerns, and identity matters like gender dysphoria and LGBT issues.
What is her general therapeutic style?
Her approach is respectful and straightforward. She listens first, then combines client-centered listening with practical techniques to address thoughts, emotions, and behaviors.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Shirley has 18 years of professional work experience as a licensed clinical social worker.
What credential and location should I know about?
She holds the LCSW credential and practices in Montana.
Are sessions available in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients.
What session formats are offered?
Therapy can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and situations.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work together?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire, then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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