Shelley Akerman , LPC

Shelley Akerman is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Georgia with 11 years of clinical experience. She began her career after earning a master's degree and has worked in both outpatient and hospital settings. Shelley aims to help people facing everyday struggles and complex life events with a warm, down-to-earth approach.

Her style is friendly and relaxed. She believes a good therapeutic relationship matters and aims to make people feel respected and heard. Sessions are practical and focused on real changes rather than jargon-heavy theory.

Shelley uses tools from client-centered therapy to keep the conversation grounded in each person's needs. She also draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to help people notice unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes. Mindfulness practices and narrative techniques are used to help people reconnect with values and personal stories.

She has worked with adults facing stress, anxiety, depression, grief, trauma and abuse, and a range of relationship and intimacy issues. Her areas of focus include parenting concerns, caregiver stress, body image, addiction, ADHD, and the strains that come with illness or chronic pain. Shelley also supports people navigating life transitions, abandonment wounds, and family-of-origin problems.

Shelley aims to collaborate on goals and practical steps. She helps clients build clearer communication, cope with strong emotions like anger, and find ways to manage overwhelm. People who want straightforward tools and a compassionate listener may find her approach a good fit.

Online approaches that focus on practical change

Client-centered therapy centers the work on the person's needs and priorities, giving space for each individual to shape the goals and pace of sessions. This approach helps when someone needs support being heard, validated, and guided toward their own answers.

Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions. It includes straightforward exercises to test unhelpful thoughts and try small behavior changes, which can help with anxiety, depression, and coping with life transitions.

Mindfulness therapy brings simple attention practices into sessions to reduce reactivity and increase clarity. It can be useful for stress, chronic pain, and managing strong emotions like anger or overwhelm.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. Shelley treats you as a partner in deciding which methods to try and will adjust those choices based on your goals and feedback. This collaborative process helps shape a treatment plan that fits your preferences and real-life routine.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to connect. Video calls let you see facial expressions and have a fuller conversation. Phone sessions use less bandwidth and can be easier during a busy day. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for short check-ins, homework support, or when typing feels more comfortable. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work, caregiving, or medical schedules.