Kristen Shepherd , LMSW

Kristen Shepherd is a Licensed Master Social Worker (LMSW) and a 2010 graduate of the University of Michigan School of Social Work. With 15 years of experience, she spent the first decade of her career working in high-need school settings before shifting her focus to individual and couples therapy.

She approaches each person as an individual on a unique life journey and tailors interventions to meet clients where they are. Kristen finds couples work especially rewarding and supports partners in improving communication, deepening intimacy, and rediscovering enjoyment in their relationship. She provides trauma-focused care and works to help clients identify psychological wounds that may be limiting personal growth.

Kristen assists clients across the lifespan with concerns such as stress, anxiety, relationship struggles, grief, addictions, mood disorders, and parenting challenges, adapting evidence-informed strategies to each situation. Building a trusting therapeutic relationship is central to her practice, and she collaborates with clients to set goals and work toward meaningful change as they move through life transitions.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care

Kristen Shepherd integrates several evidence-informed approaches in remote work to address relationships, emotional patterns, and daily coping. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early and current patterns of connection influence feelings and behavior - it is useful for relationship challenges, attachment issues, and intimacy-related concerns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps clients identify and adjust unhelpful thoughts and behavior patterns, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress and build practical coping skills. Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes the client's perspective and emphasizes empathy and collaboration to support self-directed growth and resilience.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Kristen works collaboratively with each client to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences, and she adapts techniques as the work evolves. Licensed professionals can offer these modalities effectively in remote formats, and Kristen tailors interventions to the online setting.

Online therapy through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging increases flexibility and accessibility for people with busy schedules, mobility limitations, or geographic distance. These options make it possible to maintain continuity of care across life changes and to choose a format that feels most comfortable for the client.