Gretchen Shay, LCSW, LICSW

Gretchen Shay is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, addiction concerns, and grief. She is Gretchen Shay, LCSW and LICSW, and brings 14 years of experience to her practice in Alabama. Her style is warm and interactive and she aims to treat people with respect and compassion.

Gretchen focuses on thoughts and everyday habits as part of addressing emotional pain and life changes. She often uses straightforward strategies from cognitive-behavioral approaches to help people notice unhelpful thinking and try new responses. She also draws on client-centered practices to shape sessions around each person’s priorities and goals.

Her background includes work with people coping with medical diagnoses and caregiving challenges, as well as people facing family-of-origin problems and complicated family dynamics. She has provided support through grief and loss and worked with concerns that overlap, such as co-morbidity and substance use issues.

Sessions are conversational and goal-oriented, with tools and takeaways people can use between meetings. Gretchen adapts the conversation and plan to fit each person’s situation rather than using a one-size-fits-all method. She encourages practical steps and small changes that add up over time.

People who choose her often want straightforward help with thoughts, habits, and relationships. She emphasizes compassion, clarity, and collaborative problem solving to help clients move toward more manageable days.

How approach choices shape online work

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and following the client's pace. The therapist creates a respectful space and centers sessions on what the person wants to address, which helps with motivation and decision-making.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at thoughts and everyday habits. It involves spotting unhelpful thinking, trying small behavioral experiments, and practicing new ways of responding to stress or anxiety.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people understand emotions in relationship moments and name what they need. It is often used when emotional patterns cause repeated conflict or disconnection.

Choosing an approach is part of the work. Gretchen will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That process can change over time as needs evolve and progress is made.

For online therapy logistics, confirm the current session options before booking so you know what formats are offered. Online work can make it easier to fit sessions into busy days, reduce travel time, and support consistent check-ins. Different approaches lend themselves to different pacing and homework between sessions, and the therapist will help match the style and schedule to daily life.