Kristen Shepherd, LMSW
Michigan · 15 years in practice
Kristen Shepherd is a licensed master social worker with 15 years of clinical experience.
License and registration
- LMSW, Michigan
- 6801094151 · expires January 2028
- NPI
- 1255831558 · national provider identifier
- Years in practice
- 15
- 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 Kristen
Kristen Shepherd is a licensed master social worker with 15 years of clinical experience. She trained at the University of Michigan School of Social Work and has spent much of her career supporting people through tough life moments. Kristen focuses on building a strong therapeutic relationship and offers straightforward, compassionate care.
She often helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar symptoms, and attention-deficit challenges. Kristen also supports those facing trauma, grief, addiction struggles, and difficulties with intimacy and relationships.
Background and approach
Her practice includes work around parenting, sleep and eating concerns, anger, self-esteem, and identity issues for LGBT people. Kristen uses approaches such as Emotionally-Focused Therapy, attachment-based work, client-centered methods, cognitive behavioral techniques, and motivational interviewing. She adjusts these methods to fit where each person is in life.
Sessions are practical, with a focus on clearer communication, emotion awareness, and steps people can try between meetings. Her background includes a decade working in high-need school settings, which shaped her ability to work in pressured situations and with complex stressors. That experience informs how she notices patterns, relationships, and daily challenges that affect mental health.
People looking for help can expect a collaborative style. Kristen aims to identify wounds from past trauma and the patterns that keep them active. She works with clients to set realistic goals and to practice new ways of connecting and coping.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Kristen lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- 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 Kristen names
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
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 her approaches translate to online care
Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on identifying and working with core emotions in relationships. It helps people notice patterns in how they respond to each other and learn new ways to connect and express needs.Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early bonds shape current relationships. This approach helps people understand their attachment patterns and try different ways of relating that feel safer and more reliable.
Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship. The therapist follows the client’s pace and priorities, helping people name what matters and decide steps to try between sessions.
Choosing the best approach is a team effort. Kristen will talk with each person about goals, history, and preferences, and then adapt methods that fit. That collaborative process helps tailor sessions to what works best as therapy progresses.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging. Video is useful for face-to-face interaction and role practice. Phone sessions can work when bandwidth is limited or when people prefer not to be on camera. Live chat and text messaging are helpful for shorter check-ins, between-session support, or when written reflection feels easier. These formats make scheduling more flexible and let people fit therapy into work, school, or caregiving routines.
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Questions people ask
What concerns does Kristen commonly address?
She supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar mood concerns, ADHD, trauma, grief, addictions, intimacy issues, eating and sleeping problems, and parenting stress.
What is her general therapy style?
Her style is collaborative and warm. She builds a strong working relationship and uses practical steps people can try between sessions.
How long has she practiced clinically?
She has 15 years of experience, including ten years in high-need school settings and ongoing clinical practice with individuals and couples.
What credentials and region apply to her practice?
She holds an LMSW, listed as MI LMSW, and practices with a Michigan location on file.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English. She also accepts clients who are located internationally.
Which session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs and schedules.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin therapy?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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