Kristen Shepherd, LMSW

Kristen Shepherd is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) with 15 years of clinical experience in Michigan. She trained at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and has spent much of her career supporting people through relationship strain, anxiety, depression, and trauma. Kristen aims to create a calm, practical space where people can talk about what feels most urgent in their lives.

She spent a decade working in high-needs school settings before focusing on individual and couple work. That background shaped her skill at listening, spotting patterns, and helping people find small, manageable changes that make life feel less overwhelming. She tailors each session to the person's goals and current situation.

Her work often centers on relationships and intimacy, and she helps couples improve communication and rebuild connection. Kristen also addresses trauma, grief, addiction, mood disorders, ADHD, sleep and eating concerns, and stress from caregiving or life transitions. Her trauma-focused care looks for psychological wounds that affect daily life and relationships.

Kristen draws on Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), attachment-based approaches, emotionally-focused ideas, and client-centered conversation to guide her work. She also uses motivational interviewing and narrative techniques to support change and clarify values. Sessions are collaborative and goal-oriented rather than strictly didactic.

Clients can expect clear feedback, practical tools, and honest discussion about progress. Kristen emphasizes a strong working relationship as the foundation for change and meets people where they are in life.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online work

Kristen uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. CBT is useful for anxiety, depression, sleep and eating concerns, and managing day-to-day stress.

She also draws on attachment-based therapy to look at how early relationships influence current patterns with partners and close others. This approach helps people understand emotional triggers and improve connection with significant people in their life.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Kristen will listen to your goals and try methods that fit your needs, adjusting as you progress. The process is collaborative and paced to your goals and comfort.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video works well for deeper conversations and couples work, phone can be simpler for lower bandwidth or shorter check-ins, and messaging is useful for ongoing support between sessions. These options make scheduling easier and let therapy fit around work, school, or caregiving responsibilities.