Gretchen Shay , LCSW, LICSW

Gretchen Shay is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Illinois and Alabama with 14 years of experience supporting children, adolescents, adults, and caregivers through a wide range of life challenges. She has worked with depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, parenting concerns, addiction and co-dependency, family-of-origin and blended family issues, eating and food-related problems, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and the stresses that come with medical diagnoses and caregiving. Her practice also encompasses interventions, family dynamic work, and support around end-of-life transitions.

Her therapeutic style is warm and interactive, grounded in respect, sensitivity, and compassion, and she avoids stigmatizing labels. She integrates cognitive-behavioral methods with humanistic, psychodynamic, and rational-emotive techniques, shaping dialogue and treatment plans to meet each person’s specific needs and goals. As a holder of LCSW and LICSW clinical social work licenses—professional credentials that reflect advanced training to provide psychotherapy—she focuses on empowering people who are taking steps toward greater well-being and resilience.

Therapeutic approaches and online care

Gretchen Shay commonly draws on client-centered therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and emotionally-focused therapy (EFT) in her work. Client-centered therapy centers the individual’s experience and emphasizes empathy and acceptance, helping people build self-awareness, self-esteem, and a clearer sense of personal goals. CBT focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and developing practical strategies to manage symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress-related issues. EFT helps people recognize and change emotional patterns in relationships, which can be especially useful for couples, attachment concerns, and family work.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Gretchen works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. Licensed professionals and therapists often adapt techniques over time as progress and circumstances evolve.

Online therapy with Gretchen is offered via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, providing flexibility to fit therapy into busy schedules, maintain continuity during life transitions, and access support from home or while traveling.