Shelley Adkins

Compassionate, experienced LCSW guiding practical change

LCSW Kentucky

Experience: 25 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Relationship, Trauma and abuse
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Shelley

Shelley Adkins brings 25 years of clinical experience as an LCSW practicing in Kentucky, helping adults navigate stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, and relationship challenges. She focuses on practical strategies that address everyday pressures like workplace stress, caregiver fatigue, chronic health concerns, and major life transitions.

Background and approach

Her background includes work with a broad range of emotional and interpersonal issues, including communication problems, family of origin dynamics, self-esteem concerns, and coping with loss or change. Her style blends empathy with evidence-informed methods so clients can build resilience and clearer coping plans.

Shelley uses approaches that help people process difficult memories, reframe unhelpful thinking patterns, and develop mindfulness-based ways to manage intense emotions. Sessions are tailored to each person’s goals and pace, with an emphasis on improving communication, reducing distress, and restoring a sense of purpose.

She offers multiple online session formats to fit different schedules and needs, and supports clients in finding sustainable strategies for longer-term well-being.

Evidence-Informed Approaches Adapted for Online Care

Shelley commonly integrates cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness therapy when working with clients online. CBT helps identify and change unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, making it useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns. Mindfulness therapy teaches present-moment awareness and calming practices that can reduce emotional reactivity and support coping with chronic stress or grief.

Choosing the best approach is a shared process. Shelley collaborates with each person to understand their goals, symptoms, and preferences, adjusting techniques over time so therapy fits the client rather than forcing a single method onto every situation. This collaborative stance helps clients feel involved in planning their care and tracking progress together.

Online sessions are offered through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, which provides flexibility for people balancing work, caregiving, or health limitations. These options make it easier to maintain consistent appointments, revisit skills between sessions, and access support from home or another convenient location.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does Shelley commonly address?

Shelley works with adults on stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, relationship and family difficulties, parenting strain, anger, self-esteem, career transitions, compassion fatigue, and coping with life changes.

What is her therapeutic approach and style?

The approach combines client-centered listening with practical techniques from cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, narrative work, and trauma-focused methods to tailor interventions to each person’s needs.

How much clinical experience does she have?

She has practiced as a licensed social worker for 25 years, bringing long-term clinical experience to complex emotional and interpersonal concerns.

What credentials and location are listed?

She is an LCSW licensed in Kentucky with the license designation KY LCSW 1957 and provides services to clients in that region.

In which language can I work with her and can she see international clients?

Sessions are offered in English and she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats are available?

Sessions can be done via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How does billing and cost work?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working together?

To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule an appointment according to the therapist’s availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuse Grief Depression

Also works with

Family conflictsParenting issuesAnger managementSelf esteemCareer difficultiesCoping with life changes Compassion fatigue

Additional focus areas

Aging and geriatric issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCodependencyCommitment issuesCommunication problemsCoping with natural or human-caused disasterDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFirst responder issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameHIV / AIDSHospice and end-of-life counselingIsolation / lonelinessLife purposeMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMood disorders Panic disorder and panic attacks Post-traumatic stress Self-harmSelf-loveSexual assault and abuseSocial anxiety and phobiaSomatizationWomen's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Mindfulness TherapyNarrative TherapyTrauma-Focused Therapy

Experience

25+ years

Licensed

Kentucky

Languages

English