Kristen Shepherd
Specialities
Family systems, Parenting, Adolescence, Complicated Grief, Suicidality, Self-injurious, Behaviors, PTSD/Trauma, Couples Counseling, Anxiety & Depression.
Additional Expertise
Sex Therapy, Anger Management, LGBTQ issues, Bipolar, Autism Spectrum Disorders, Stress Management & Emotional Intelligence.
Insurance Accepted
BCN Advantage (Medicare), BCN Commercial, MA PFFS, Medicare Plus Blue PPO, PPO, TRUST, Traditional BCN Commercial, BCBS Traditional, Medicaid, Medicare, Magellan, Optum Behavioral Health, Cigna Behavioral Health, Mclaren Medicaid, Mclaren Commercial, Mclaren Advantage, Meridian Medicaid.
Practice Location
Online Counseling
I have worked as a school social worker for the past 10 years and I have been doing telehealth therapy part time for the past 5 years. As the field of telehealth has grown, I have made the transition from school social work to full time telehealth therapy. By building a trusting therapeutic relationship with clients through a virtual platform, I have been able to reach more people than if I were confined to a physical office location. I find that clients typically feel even safer being vulnerable while they attend therapy sessions from the comfort of their homes.
I am passionate about helping clients find clarity as they navigate challenging emotions and experiences. Trauma focused care is critical to the healing process, and I work collaboratively with my clients to do this work at a pace that feels safe for them.
Another area of clinical focus is helping families who are struggling with the mental illness of a family member. When one member of a family has a mental health disorder, ultimately all members of the family are affected. Using principles of Family Systems Theory, I help family members identify ways to improve their communication and set healthy boundaries in order to increase overall quality of family life.
Working with couples is an area of high interest to me and I enjoy helping partners recognize toxic patterns of behavior, set mutual goals for the health of the relationship, and explore increased intimacy and connection with each other. Doing this work is a great honor for me and I look forward to continuing to support my clients on their journeys to increased emotional well-being.