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SA Portrait of Shelley Akerman

Shelley Akerman

Practical, compassionate counseling focused on change

LPC Georgia

Experience
11 years in practice
Focus areas
Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Family
Approaches
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages
English
Continue with Shelley

About Shelley

Shelley Akerman is a licensed professional counselor (LPC) practicing in Georgia with 11 years of clinical experience.

Background and approach

She earned her master’s degree and has worked across outpatient and hospital settings, supporting people with a wide range of concerns including depression, anxiety, trauma and abuse, addiction, grief, and relationship difficulties. Her practice also addresses issues such as ADHD, bipolar symptoms, compassion fatigue, parenting challenges, and intimacy-related struggles.

Shelley approaches counseling in a warm, down-to-earth manner that aims to help clients feel respected and understood. She favors practical, creative problem solving and draws on evidence-informed methods like cognitive behavioral therapy alongside client-centered and mindfulness-based techniques.

Sessions are collaborative and goal-oriented, with attention to each person’s values and strengths. Shelley welcomes international clients and conducts sessions in English.

Her background includes work with diverse age ranges and cultural experiences, and she brings a supportive, nonjudgmental presence to the therapeutic relationship. Prospective clients are encouraged to consider their goals and reach out when they are ready to begin a process of growth and coping with life’s challenges.

Approaches That Guide Online Sessions

Shelley uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help people identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns; this approach is often applied to anxiety, depression, and coping with life changes. She also integrates client-centered therapy, offering a supportive, nonjudgmental space where the therapist follows the client’s lead and prioritizes empathy and acceptance. Mindfulness-based techniques are used to help clients develop present-moment awareness and tools for managing stress and emotional reactivity.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Shelley partners with each client to explore which methods match their goals, preferences, and circumstances, and she adapts techniques over time as progress and needs evolve.

Online therapy offers practical flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit counseling into busy schedules or across distances. These options allow clients to access licensed professionals from where they are, maintain continuity of care, and choose the format that best supports their communication style and day-to-day life.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Shelley commonly address in therapy?
Shelley works with many issues including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, relationship and intimacy-related problems, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and caregiver stress among others.
What is Shelley’s therapeutic approach and style?
Her style is down-to-earth, laid back, and friendly, combining client-centered listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and solution-focused work.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 11 years of experience working as a therapist in both outpatient and hospital settings with a variety of presenting concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
Shelley holds the LPC credential with licence GA LPC LPC011117 and provides services while based in Georgia.
Does she work with clients who live outside the United States?
Yes, she accepts international clients and conducts sessions in English.
In what formats are sessions offered?
Sessions are available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different needs and schedules.
How are fees handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesFamily conflictsTrauma and abuseDepression

Also works with

AddictionsLGBTGriefIntimacy-related issuesParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemBipolar disorderCoping with life changesCompassion fatigueADHD

Additional focus areas

AbandonmentBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsControl issuesDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFertility issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImpulsivityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMidlife crisisMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationSeasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

11+ years

Licensed

Georgia

Languages

English