About Kristen
Kristen Shepherd is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with 15 years of clinical experience. She trained at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and has worked extensively in school settings and independent practice. Kristen focuses on clear, practical support for people facing stress, anxiety, depression, ADHD and relationship struggles.
She tailors sessions to each person's situation. Kristen sees individuals and couples, and she aims to build a trusting working relationship first.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on improving communication, managing intense emotions, and addressing patterns that get in the way of daily life. Her work often addresses past trauma and how it affects current coping and intimacy. Kristen helps clients identify emotional wounds and practice concrete skills to respond differently.
She blends conversational, strengths-based conversation with techniques for changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Kristen uses a client-centered stance that keeps the person's goals front and center. She also draws on attachment ideas to understand relationship patterns and on cognitive strategies to reduce anxiety or depression.
Motivational interviewing is part of her approach when people are weighing change. She offers care in a straightforward, compassionate way and adapts to each person's pace. Kristen accepts clients from Michigan and beyond and works with a broad range of life concerns, including grief, parenting stress, addiction, eating and sleep problems, and mood disorders.
To begin, a short matching questionnaire helps pair people with scheduling options.
How her approaches translate to online therapy
Kristen uses attachment-based ideas to look at how early relationship patterns shape current connections. This helps when communication or intimacy has become strained and when people want clearer ways to relate to partners or loved ones.She also uses client-centered therapy, which means sessions start from the person’s goals and priorities. This approach supports people who need a steady, validating space to talk through life changes, grief, or identity concerns.
In addition, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) appears in her work to tackle anxiety, depressive patterns, and unhelpful thinking. CBT offers specific tools for managing symptoms and changing behaviors that get in the way of daily functioning.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Kristen will listen to your concerns and goals, then suggest methods that fit how you prefer to work. She adjusts strategies over time so the plan matches your progress and changing needs.
Online therapy with Kristen is offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and shared exercises. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is low or a quick check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging let people send notes between sessions or use shorter, more frequent check-ins for ongoing support.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Most often
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
Also listed
- Abandonment
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Attachment issues
- Bipolar disorder
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Commitment issues
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Depression
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Eating and food-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Intimacy-related issues
- Jealousy
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self esteem
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Sleeping disorders
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trichotillomania
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 15 years
- Licensed
- Michigan
- Languages
- English
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