About Kristen
Kristen Shepherd is a Licensed Master Social Worker who brings 15 years of clinical experience to her work. She began her career after graduating from the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2010 and spent a decade supporting students in high-needs school settings. Over time she shifted to individual and couples therapy to focus more on close therapeutic relationships.
She helps people who are facing stress and anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, and relationship or intimacy challenges.
Background and approach
She also supports concerns such as ADHD, bipolar mood issues, addiction, eating and sleeping problems, and parenting stress. Kristen treats each person as an individual and meets them where they are. Her approach adapts to what a client needs in the moment.
She uses attachment-based work to look at early relationship patterns, client-centered methods to follow the clients' lead, and cognitive behavioral techniques to address unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. She also draws on emotionally-focused ideas when working with relationships and motivational interviewing to guide change. Kristen emphasizes building a trusting working relationship first.
She offers trauma-focused care to help identify and process psychological wounds that may be interfering with daily life. Sessions aim to improve communication, emotional connection, and practical coping skills. She practices from Michigan and offers services in English.
Kristen is open to working with international clients through online formats and tailors scheduling and session style to fit each person’s life.
How therapy approaches translate to online care
Kristen commonly uses attachment-based work to explore how early relationships shape current patterns. That approach helps when people struggle with trust, closeness, or repeating unhelpful relationship cycles. She also uses client-centered methods which focus on listening and following the client's priorities, helping people feel heard and respected. Cognitive behavioral techniques are used to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which can reduce anxiety and improve mood.Choosing which approach to use is part of the work together. Kristen will talk with clients about their goals, preferences, and practical needs, and then recommend strategies to try. The plan can change as progress is made, and she aims to collaborate so the methods feel useful and realistic for each person.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. Video calls are useful when clients want face-to-face interaction. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when a shorter check-in fits a break at work. Live chat and text-based messaging are helpful for quick updates, brief skills practice, or when writing feels more comfortable than speaking. These options make it possible to maintain regular sessions around busy schedules and different time zones.
Questions people ask
What concerns does she commonly address?
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What is her clinical background?
Where does she practice and what is her credential?
Which languages are supported and can international clients connect?
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How are fees and payment handled?
How do I begin therapy with her?
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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