Gretchen Shay, LCSW, LICSW

Gretchen Shay is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, and relationship concerns. She supports parents facing parenting strain and people coping with major life changes. Her straightforward, compassionate manner aims to make the first step feel less overwhelming.

Gretchen brings 14 years of clinical experience and holds LCSW and LICSW credentials. She has worked with people dealing with depression, trauma and abuse, eating and body-image issues, and compassion fatigue. Her background also includes helping those affected by medical diagnoses and the emotional impact on caregivers.

Her style is warm and interactive. Sessions focus on practical conversation and clear goals. She believes in treating people with respect and avoiding stigmatizing labels.

Gretchen uses a mix of approaches to match each person’s needs. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is included among the methods she draws on to identify unhelpful patterns and test small behavior changes. She also uses client-centered ideas to keep the work focused on each person’s values and priorities and emotionally focused techniques when relationship or attachment concerns are central.

People can expect a tailored plan that balances short-term problem-solving with deeper exploration when needed. Gretchen helps clients set realistic steps, try new coping strategies, and reflect on progress along the way.

Therapeutic approaches adapted for online care

Gretchen often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people notice thoughts and behaviors that fuel stress or anxiety, then try small experiments to shift those patterns. Client-centered methods mean sessions follow the person’s pace and priorities, with the therapist listening closely and reflecting what matters most to the client. Emotionally-Focused Therapy can be used when attachment and relationship patterns are a core concern, focusing on how emotions shape responses and closeness.

Choosing the right approach is a joint process. Gretchen will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels most useful, and then shape the work together. That means plans can start focused and practical, or move into deeper emotional issues as needed.

Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video lets people read expressions and do longer discussions, while phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier to fit into a busy day. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, ongoing coaching, or when typing feels more comfortable. These options make it easier to stay consistent and keep therapy working around daily life.