SA Portrait of Sheila Askins

Sheila Askins, MD, LCSW-C

Calm, practical support for anxiety and life changes

28 years in practice · based in Maryland · sessions in English · online sessions

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About Sheila

Sheila Askins is a licensed clinician who helps people manage anxiety, stress, addiction, and other life challenges. She brings a calm, practical approach to sessions and focuses on small, doable steps that lead to change. Her background includes both counseling and case management in community settings.

She started her career supporting families and children through social services. Much of her early work involved stabilizing households by connecting people with resources and offering direct counseling.

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Background and approach

Over time she expanded into mental health roles that addressed barriers to employment caused by depression and anxiety. Sheila has long experience with substance addiction and school-based counseling. That work shaped how she blends talk therapy with practical planning and referrals when needed.

She helps people identify obstacles and build routines that support recovery and daily functioning. In session she uses client-centered methods to listen and respond to each person’s situation. She also applies cognitive behavioral techniques to spot and change unhelpful thinking patterns.

Solution-focused strategies help set concrete goals and track progress over time. She holds an MD and is a Licensed Certified Social Worker-Clinical (LCSW-C) with many years in the field. Sheila practices from Maryland and conducts sessions in English.

She aims to make therapy approachable and focused on what matters most to each client.

Approaches That Work Well Online

Many of Sheila's methods adapt well to remote work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening closely and responding to each person's needs, which helps clients feel heard during video or phone sessions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) breaks problems into thoughts, behaviors, and feelings, and it transfers easily to online formats where homework and thought records can be shared and reviewed. Solution-Focused Therapy zeroes in on small, practical goals and next steps, which makes progress easy to track between sessions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work together. Sheila will talk with each person about their goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.

Online sessions offer flexibility for people juggling work, childcare, or travel. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited, live chat is useful for brief check-ins, and text messaging supports ongoing reflection and short updates. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life while still staying focused on practical change.
Book with Sheila Now Review online therapy options and next steps.

Questions people ask

What concerns does Sheila address in therapy?
Sheila works with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, relationship and family issues, grief, parenting concerns, anger, self-esteem, coping with life changes, intimacy-related issues, and ADHD.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is practical and collaborative. She listens in a client-centered way, uses cognitive behavioral tools to change unhelpful thoughts, and focuses on concrete solutions and goals.
How much experience does she have?
She has 28 years of experience in the helping professions, including roles in social services, mental health settings, school counseling, and substance addiction work.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She holds an MD and is an LCSW-C. She practices in Maryland.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
She conducts video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

What this therapist works with

Also listed

Experience
28 years
Licensed
Maryland
Languages
English

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