Kristen Shepherd, LMSW
Experienced therapist helping people tell new stories
Details
| Name | Kristen Shepherd |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LMSW |
| Based in | Michigan |
| Licensed in | Michigan |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 15 |
About Kristen
Kristen Shepherd is a licensed master social worker with 15 years of experience. She completed her Master of Social Work at the University of Michigan in 2010 and has since focused on building strong connections with the people she supports. Kristen aims to create a straightforward, compassionate space where clients can talk about what matters to them.
She offers practical help for stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, and other life challenges.
Background and approach
Before moving to individual and couples work, Kristen spent a decade in high-needs school settings. That background shaped her ability to notice patterns, clarify goals, and stay calm in hard moments. She uses that experience to help people manage mood disorders, attention differences, and the effects of trauma.
Her approach is collaborative and down-to-earth. Kristen adapts methods to fit each person rather than following a single script. She draws on Narrative therapy to reframe stories people tell about themselves, Attachment-based ideas to look at how relationships shape feeling and behavior, and Client-centered attitudes that respect each person's pace and priorities.
Kristen pays close attention to relationship and intimacy issues, including communication and trust. She also supports people facing grief, caregiving strain, chronic health challenges, eating or sleeping concerns, and addiction-related struggles. Sessions focus on small, achievable changes and clearer ways to handle conflict or strong emotions.
Her work with trauma emphasizes identifying old wounds and testing new responses in the present. Kristen welcomes conversations about goals, treatment options, and what a comfortable pace of work looks like. She accepts clients in Michigan and international clients who prefer English-language sessions.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse among the things Kristen works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Intimacy-related issues
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Self esteem
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Body image
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Commitment issues
- Control issues
- Coping with natural or human-caused disaster
- Disruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Eating and food-related issues
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Fertility issues
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Infidelity
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Postpartum depression
- Post-traumatic stress
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Sexual dysfunction
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trichotillomania
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Kristen among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Kristen among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Kristen among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Kristen among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Kristen among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Kristen among the ways she works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Kristen among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Kristen directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Kristen directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How narrative and attachment work online
Kristen uses Narrative Therapy to help people notice and reframe the stories they tell about themselves. This approach can be useful for changing unhelpful self-views, addressing body image or shame, and shifting how past events are held in the present. Attachment-Based Therapy is another main influence; it focuses on how early and current relationships shape emotion and behavior and can help with intimacy, trust, and chronic anxiety.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Kristen treats therapy as a collaborative process and will explore together which methods fit a person's goals and comfort level. She adjusts pacing and techniques as needs and preferences become clearer over time.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make participation easier. Video makes it possible to use visual cues for relationship work; phone calls can be a simpler option when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging allow brief check-ins, notes between sessions, or a way to keep therapy going when schedules are tight. These options aim to make consistent support more accessible for people juggling work, caregiving, or different time zones.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of problems does she help with?
She helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, eating and sleeping concerns, parenting strain, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and related challenges.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her style is collaborative and practical. She listens closely, helps reframe personal stories, and works with clients to try small changes that feel doable.
What is her professional background?
Kristen earned a Master of Social Work from the University of Michigan in 2010 and has about 15 years of practice, including ten years in high-needs school settings before focusing on individual and couples work.
Where is she based and what credentials does she hold?
She is based in Michigan and holds the credential LMSW, which stands for Licensed Master Social Worker.
Which languages and client locations are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and Kristen accepts international clients who prefer to work in English.
What session formats are available?
She provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to give flexibility in how people connect.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Kristen are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Kristen where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
Or see other therapists in Michigan »
This is a partner link. We will earn a commission if you sign up through it, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
Other listings in Michigan
- Natasha Wagner, LPC, LCPC - Michigan
- Susan King, LMFT - Michigan
- Eva "Melissa" Gadd, LMSW - Michigan
- Dr. Melissa Oleshansky, MI Psychologist - Michigan
- All therapists for stress, anxiety »