About Shay
Shay Bankston is a licensed independent social worker with 20 years of clinical experience in Ohio. She focuses on anxiety, stress, depression, trauma, and life changes. Shay centers care on practical tools people can use day to day.
She creates an affirming, person-centered space that honors diverse identities. Shay pays special attention to social anxiety, isolation, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress. She also brings sensitivity to first responder concerns and LGBT issues.
Background and approach
Shay emphasizes collaboration and clear steps. Sessions focus on building coping skills, reducing distress, and strengthening emotional resilience. She helps people break big problems into manageable tasks and practice new ways of responding.
Her work draws on evidence-based therapeutic techniques and a trauma-informed outlook. That means she looks at how past experiences affect current reactions and helps clients develop safer ways to cope. Shay balances practical skill-building with attention to emotions and meaning.
People who reach out can expect straightforward guidance and steady support. Shay works with those facing grief, addictions, parenting strain, career stress, compassion fatigue, ADHD concerns, and relationship or intimacy questions. She also assists with control issues, hoarding, and isolation.
Evidence-based approaches and online care options
Shay uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical change and managing distress. One common method she uses helps people learn specific coping skills to reduce anxiety and manage panic attacks; it focuses on breathing, grounding, and stepwise exposure to feared situations. Another approach looks at the impact of past trauma on current reactions and teaches safer ways to respond to triggers and build emotional regulation.Finding the right approach is a team effort. Shay works with each person to figure out which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time and checks in regularly to make sure the work feels helpful and doable.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to increase flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face interaction for skill practice and deeper conversation. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for brief check-ins, coaching-style support, or when a shorter touchpoint fits into a busy day. These options make it easier to schedule therapy around work, caregiving, and other commitments.
Questions people ask
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What this therapist works with
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Family conflicts
- First responder issues
- Grief
- HIV / AIDS
- Hoarding
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Relationship issues
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Experience
- 20 years
- Licensed
- Ohio
- Languages
- English
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