Gretchen Shay, LCSW, LICSW
Calm, practical support for life’s hard moments
Details
| Name | Gretchen Shay |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW, LICSW |
| Based in | Alabama |
| Licensed in | Alabama, Illinois |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 14 |
About Gretchen
Gretchen Shay is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people manage stress, anxiety, addiction, grief, and relationship struggles. She brings 14 years of hands-on experience and works with parents, caregivers, and individuals facing life transitions. Gretchen aims to make the first steps less overwhelming with practical, steady support.
Her style is warm and interactive. Sessions focus on real-life concerns and simple, usable strategies rather than jargon. She listens for the story behind a problem and looks for strengths to build on.
Background and approach
Gretchen uses Narrative Therapy to help people reframe difficult experiences and separate themselves from painful labels. She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy to keep conversations grounded in the client’s needs, and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thinking patterns. She has helped people cope with grief, medical and caregiving stress, eating and body image issues, and substance concerns.
Gretchen also works with those dealing with attachment and abandonment worries, blended family dynamics, and forgiveness work. Licensed in Illinois as an LCSW and in Alabama as an LICSW, she offers sessions in English. Her aim is to tailor each plan to a person’s situation and goals, and to help them find manageable steps toward feeling better.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Addictions, Family conflicts among the things Gretchen works with, alongside the areas below.
- 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 listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Gretchen among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Gretchen among the ways she works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Gretchen among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Gretchen among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Gretchen among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Gretchen directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Gretchen directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How Narrative and Practical Therapies Work Online
Gretchen often uses Narrative Therapy to help people tell and reframe the stories they carry about themselves. This approach looks at how problems fit into a person’s life story and helps people separate from limiting labels. She also uses Client-Centered Therapy, which keeps the conversation focused on the client’s priorities and creates space for honest, paced exploration. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is used to spot unhelpful thoughts and try small experiments to change reactions and behavior.Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist and client will talk through goals, preferences, and what feels most helpful. That collaborative process guides which methods get used and how sessions are shaped over time.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to fit different needs. Video calls are good when visual connection helps the conversation. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or when someone prefers not to be on camera. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for shorter check-ins, note-taking between sessions, or when fitting therapy into a busy day. These options make it easier to schedule therapy around work, caregiving, or other responsibilities.
Common questions about this listing
What kinds of concerns does she help with?
She supports people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship and parenting struggles, addictions, grief, trauma and abuse, self-esteem issues, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe her approach in sessions?
Her style is warm and interactive. She listens to each person’s story and uses practical tools and conversation to help reframe problems and build coping skills.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Gretchen brings 14 years of experience as a social worker and therapist, working with a wide range of concerns including caregiving, medical-related stress, and family dynamics.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a licensed clinical social worker: LCSW in Illinois and LICSW in Alabama. Her practice is associated with Alabama for online sessions.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
What steps are involved in getting started?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist’s availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Gretchen are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Gretchen where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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