Shay Bankston , LISW

Shay Bankston is an Ohio-based licensed therapist with 20 years of experience helping people navigate difficult emotional terrain. As an LISW - Licensed Independent Social Worker - she combines clinical training with a compassionate, practical approach to care that centers each person’s unique strengths and goals.

Her practice emphasizes support for individuals dealing with depression, anxiety, trauma, and major life transitions. She works attentively with people experiencing social anxiety, isolation, panic disorders, and post-traumatic stress, and she brings particular sensitivity to the needs of first responders and LGBTQ+ clients. Shay aims to create an affirming space that honors diverse identities and lived experiences.

Shay’s style is collaborative and person-centered, focused on helping clients develop meaningful coping strategies and build resilience. Using evidence-based practices and a trauma-informed lens, she guides clients toward greater self-understanding and practical tools for managing day-to-day challenges. Her goal is to walk alongside clients as they explore growth, healing, and renewed confidence in their ability to face life’s changes.

Evidence-Based Approaches for Online Care

Shay draws on a person-centered approach that focuses on each client’s priorities and strengths, helping individuals set goals and explore solutions at a comfortable pace. This collaborative style supports people facing depression, anxiety, life transitions, and relationship concerns by emphasizing empathy, active listening, and practical problem-solving.

She also applies trauma-informed evidence-based techniques designed to reduce the impact of traumatic experiences and improve daily functioning. These methods teach coping skills, emotional regulation, and ways to safely process difficult memories, which can be especially helpful for those with post-traumatic stress, panic symptoms, or first responder exposure.

In addition, Shay incorporates coaching-oriented work to help clients tackle life changes, career questions, and goals for personal growth. This approach blends therapeutic insight with actionable steps to build resilience and forward momentum.

Finding the right blend of methods is part of the therapeutic process. Shay collaborates with each person to identify the approaches that best match their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds. Online therapy offers flexibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit care into busy schedules, maintain continuity during transitions, and access a licensed professional from different locations.