Gretchen Shay, LCSW, LICSW

Alabama · 14 years in practice

Gretchen Shay is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, eating concerns, and relationship struggles.

License and registration

LICSW, Alabama: 4865C · expires September 2027
LCSW, Illinois: 149013908 · expires November 2027
NPI: 1962731968 · national provider identifier
Years in practice: 14
Languages: English

Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the license with the issuing state board, and the NPI with the national registry.

About Gretchen

Gretchen Shay is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, eating concerns, and relationship struggles. She brings 14 years of practical experience and focuses on everyday problems like parenting strain, low self-esteem, coping with life changes, and compassion fatigue. Her approach is compassionate and down-to-earth, aimed at making change feel doable rather than overwhelming.

In sessions she keeps the tone warm and interactive. Conversations are tailored to each person’s needs, with space to talk through feelings and practical steps to try between meetings.

Background and approach

She draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy to look at emotions and attachment patterns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy ideas are used to spot and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior. She also uses client-centered and narrative ideas to help people tell their story and find new meanings.

Motivational Interviewing helps when someone feels stuck or uncertain about change. These methods are woven together to match what each person brings to therapy. Gretchen holds LCSW and LICSW credentials, licensed in Illinois and Alabama.

She has worked with people facing medical diagnoses and their caregivers, including grief and end-of-life issues. Her background includes addressing family of origin concerns and blended family challenges. Sessions are offered in English and available through a variety of online formats.

The focus in early meetings is on building a plan that fits daily life and goals, so steps forward feel clear and manageable.

Focus areas and approaches

Everything Gretchen lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.

Stress, Anxiety
Addictions
Family conflicts
Eating disorders
Depression
Relationship issues
Trauma and abuse
Grief
Parenting issues
Self esteem
Coping with life changes
Compassion fatigue
Abandonment
Attachment issues
Blended family issues
Body image
Cancer
Co-morbidity
Codependency
Commitment issues
Dependent personality
Divorce and separation
Drug and alcohol addiction
Eating and food-related issues
Family of origin issues
Family problems
Forgiveness
Hoarding
Hospice and end-of-life counseling
Infidelity
Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
Self-harm
Social anxiety and phobia
Trichotillomania
Women's issues
Workplace issues
Young adult issues

Approaches Gretchen names

Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.

Online support

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Gretchen uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy to help people notice and name strong emotions and attachment patterns that shape close relationships. This approach can be useful for people wanting to understand why they react a certain way in relationships or when they feel stuck in cycles of hurt.

She also uses Client-Centered Therapy to make the conversation feel respectful and responsive, letting the person lead the pace and topics. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques are used to spot unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes that make daily life easier. These approaches are practical and often combined depending on the concern.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will ask about goals, preferences, and what has or hasn’t helped before, then recommend a plan to try together. Adjustments are made as the work progresses so the approach fits the person, not the other way around.

Online sessions offer flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video lets people use visual cues during emotional work, phone calls can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and text or chat is useful for quick check-ins or scheduling around busy days. These options make it easier to get consistent support while fitting therapy into everyday life.

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Questions people ask

What kinds of concerns can be addressed?

She supports people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship struggles, parenting strain, addiction, trauma and grief, plus related issues like body image and family problems.

How would you describe the therapy style?

The style is warm and interactive. Conversations focus on emotions, practical steps, and tailoring work to what feels useful for each person.

What is her professional background?

Gretchen has 14 years of experience working as a social worker and therapist across a range of concerns, including medical caregiving, grief, and family dynamics.

What credentials does she hold and where is she based?

She holds LCSW and LICSW credentials and is licensed in Illinois and Alabama, with practice listed in Alabama.

Which languages are sessions offered in?

Sessions are offered in English.

What session formats are available?

Therapy is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.

How does pricing work?

Cost varies by location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

How do I begin a therapy match?

Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a session based on the therapist's availability.

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