Kristen Shepherd

Compassionate, practical therapy for life and relationships

LMSW Michigan

Experience: 15 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Attachment-Based Therapy
Languages: English

About Kristen

Kristen Shepherd is an LMSW with 15 years of clinical experience who began her social work career after graduating from the University of Michigan School of Social Work in 2010.

Background and approach

She spent a decade practicing in high-needs school settings before shifting focus to one-on-one and couple work, where she helps clients strengthen communication, intimacy, and day-to-day coping. Kristen frames her work around building a strong therapeutic relationship and adapts interventions to each person’s circumstances and goals.

Her practice emphasizes trauma-focused care and attention to attachment patterns that can shape current relationships and emotional responses. Drawing on cognitive behavioral strategies alongside client-centered and emotionally-focused ideas, she supports people navigating anxiety, depression, bipolar challenges, ADHD, grief, addiction concerns, and a range of relationship and life-transition issues.

Kristen also addresses practical and identity-related topics such as parenting, body image, aging concerns, and LGBT matters. Clients can expect a tailored, collaborative approach that identifies patterns keeping them stuck while cultivating new skills for coping and connection.

She accepts international clients and practices from Michigan, offering several online session formats to fit different schedules and needs.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Kristen uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help clients identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and develop practical skills for managing anxiety, depression, and daily stressors. Attachment-Based Therapy is used to explore how early relational experiences influence current partnerships and emotional responses, which can be especially helpful for intimacy and relationship concerns. She also incorporates client-centered therapy principles, offering empathic, nonjudgmental support that lets clients set the pace and focus of the work.

Choosing the right approach is collaborative rather than prescriptive. She partners with each client to assess goals, preferences, and what has or has not worked in the past, then blends techniques to best suit the individual or couple. This process allows adjustments over time as needs evolve.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which make it easier to fit therapy into busy schedules and to continue care across distances. These formats provide flexibility for different communication styles and allow therapeutic work to continue even when in-person meetings are not feasible, while licensed professionals can tailor methods to each format.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she commonly address?

She works with a wide range of issues including stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy-related concerns, grief, addiction, ADHD, sleeping and eating issues, and parenting challenges.

What is her therapeutic style like?

Her approach blends client-centered warmth with structured methods such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and emotionally-focused techniques, aiming to tailor strategies to each client’s needs and goals.

How much experience does she bring to sessions?

She has 15 years of experience, including ten years working in high-needs school settings before transitioning to individual and couples-focused practice.

What are her credentials and where is she located?

She holds the LMSW credential with licence details MI LMSW 6801094151 and practices from Michigan.

Does she work with nonlocal or international clients?

Yes, she accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English.

Which session formats are available?

Sessions are offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How does pricing work for sessions?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions are provided through a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To get started, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuseIntimacy-related issuesCoping with life changes

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsGriefEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemBipolar disorderDepression ADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentAging and geriatric issuesAttachment issuesBlended family issuesBody imageCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCommitment issuesControl issuesCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)Divorce and separationDomestic violenceEating and food-related issuesEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesFertility issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameInfidelityJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disorders Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD Panic disorder and panic attacksPostpartum depressionPost-traumatic stressPregnancy and childbirthSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSocial anxiety and phobiaTrichotillomaniaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Motivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

15+ years

Licensed

Michigan

Languages

English