Doug Shirley
Doug Shirley is associate professor of Counseling Psychology at The Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. Thematic to his work as a researcher, teacher, and practitioner, is an emphasis on the person of the therapist and the importance of the self (including self-care) in helping and healing professionals. Doug and his wife, Laura Wade Shirley, are both practicing therapists in Washington state. In his practice, Doug often counsels or consults with other helping and healing professionals. His mantra in such work is, “We all sing the songs we need to hear.” Doug currently serves as primary investigator on a research team exploring the consultation practices of licensed mental health practitioners in the state of Washington. Doug’s team developed a survey they administered to said practitioners, working to address any potential impact(s) COVID may have had on practitioner consultation practices. The team will be looking to further their project in the coming academic year, focusing on the need for communal care in a field (counseling) that hasn’t always been communal in its theory, praxis, or methods of governing. You can reference more of Doug’s work at dougshirleyresearch.com. He can also be reached at dshirley@theseattleschool.edu
