Gretchen Shay

Gretchen Shay is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, and eating and food-related issues. She brings 14 years of experience to sessions and works with concerns such as addiction, grief, parenting strain, trauma and compassion fatigue. Her manner is warm and respectful, aimed at creating space to talk and find practical ways forward.

Gretchen uses a mix of conversational, evidence-informed approaches to shape treatment to each person's needs. She draws on client-centered listening to understand what matters most. Cognitive behavioral ideas are used to spot and change unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. Emotionally-focused work helps identify and shift patterns in close relationships.

Her background includes work with people facing medical diagnoses and their caregivers, from diagnosis through end-of-life and bereavement. She has also supported individuals with co-occurring addictions, codependency, and complex family dynamics. This experience informs a flexible approach that pays attention to relationships, history, and practical coping skills.

Gretchen holds LCSW and LICSW credentials and practices in Alabama. She focuses on tailoring sessions so goals are clear and achievable, and she aims to help people leave sessions with something to try between meetings.

Her style is interactive and compassionate. She avoids labels that stigmatize and centers each person's values when making a plan for change.

How her approaches guide online care

Gretchen commonly uses client-centered therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy to shape her work. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathic listening and meeting people where they are, which helps when someone feels overwhelmed or unsure what to say. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and gives concrete strategies to reduce anxiety, manage mood, or change unhelpful habits.

She also brings elements of emotionally-focused therapy when relationship patterns are central. That approach helps people notice how emotions show up in close ties and try different ways of responding to improve connection. Together these methods give options for dealing with eating and food-related concerns, grief, addiction, and family conflict in practical ways.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Gretchen will talk with each person about goals and preferences and then suggest techniques to try. This is a collaborative process where plans are adjusted based on what helps.

The biography does not specify which online session formats are offered, so confirm current options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life, offer shorter check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, homework, and conversations to work well over distance while focusing on clear, manageable goals.