Kristen Shepherd

Kristen Shepherd is a licensed master social worker with 15 years of experience who brings a straightforward, caring approach to therapy. She started 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. Kristen now focuses on individual and couples work, helping clients address problems in relationships, mood, and daily functioning.

She aims to build a strong working relationship with each person first. Kristen listens to how life has been hard and helps people name patterns that get in the way. She uses clear, practical strategies to address stress, anxiety, anger, addictions, and grief, as well as relationship and intimacy concerns.

Kristen also provides trauma-focused care and helps clients identify past psychological wounds that affect current life. She believes trauma can shape how people relate, think, and feel, and she works with clients to reduce those effects over time. Her style mixes active listening with skill-building and reflection.

Her methods draw from attachment-based work, client-centered principles, cognitive behavioral therapy, emotionally-focused therapy, and motivational interviewing. Kristen tailors the approach to each person’s needs and goals rather than using a single method for everyone.

She sees clients in Michigan and accepts international clients for remote work. Sessions are arranged through a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, clients complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule according to therapist availability.

How approach and online work come together

Kristen commonly uses attachment-based approaches and cognitive behavioral techniques in her online work. Attachment-based work looks at patterns in close relationships and helps people change long-standing ways of relating that cause distress. Cognitive behavioral therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, which is useful for anxiety, depression, anger, and many daily challenges.

She also draws on client-centered principles that emphasize listening and responding to each person's experience. Finding the right approach is often a collaborative process. Kristen discusses goals and preferences with each person and adjusts methods as needed so therapy fits the issue and the client’s style.

The biography does not list specific session formats, so confirm available options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, for example by reducing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins during a break, or avoiding the need to be on camera when that helps. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, communication skills training, and trauma-focused work for remote sessions to help clients make steady progress.