Shelley Akerman, LPC

Shelley Akerman is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Georgia with 11 years of clinical experience. She began her counseling career after earning a master’s degree in 2013 and has since worked in both outpatient and hospital settings. Shelley focuses on practical, down-to-earth help for common life struggles and relationship concerns.

Her approach is friendly and relaxed. She aims to create a space where people feel respected and heard. Sessions emphasize clear goals and practical steps rather than long lectures or jargon.

Shelley uses client-centered methods to build trust and understand each person’s priorities. She also draws on cognitive behavioral techniques to identify and shift unhelpful thoughts and behaviors. Mindfulness strategies and narrative work help clients notice patterns and reframe difficult stories.

She has experience supporting people with stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, intimacy-related issues, and relationship concerns. Shelley also helps with parenting strain, caregiver stress, chronic illness challenges, body image, and ADHD-related struggles.

Her style suits people who want straightforward, compassionate help and hands-on strategies. She collaborates with clients to set realistic steps and to track progress. To start, readers should use the site's continue button on this profile to complete a brief matching questionnaire and schedule based on therapist availability.

How her approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on genuine listening and helping clients set their own goals. It’s useful for people who want a supportive space to talk through family and relationship worries and to feel understood.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect. It uses simple tools to test unhelpful beliefs and try new behaviors, which can help with anxiety, depression, and stress.

Mindfulness Therapy teaches ways to notice thoughts and body sensations without getting swept up in them. That can help with emotional regulation and coping with ongoing stress or grief.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shelley will talk with each person about goals and preferences and will suggest methods that fit those goals. This is a collaborative process where the plan can be adjusted as progress is tracked.

Confirm the available session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific options. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. Licensed professionals can adapt exercises, worksheets, and mindfulness practices to work well in remote sessions, helping clients apply new skills between meetings.