Shelley Akerman, LPC

Shelley Akerman is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) practicing in Georgia with 11 years of experience in outpatient and hospital settings. She earned her master's degree from Mercer University and has spent more than a decade helping people work toward clearer goals and better day-to-day functioning.

Shelley keeps her approach down-to-earth and friendly. Sessions are relaxed and practical. She focuses on real-life steps people can try between meetings, and she talks things through in plain language.

Her work covers a wide range of concerns including stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, addictions, and relationship or intimacy-related issues. She also supports people navigating parenting challenges, ADHD, bipolar concerns, and the strain that comes from caregiving or chronic illness.

Shelley uses approaches like client-centered work, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, and narrative therapy to shape sessions. She emphasizes collaboration and helps people pick strategies that fit their needs and values.

People who prefer a relaxed, respectful conversation about concrete changes tend to do well with her style. She aims to help clients build coping skills, improve communication, and find practical ways to reduce distress. If someone is ready to try therapy, Shelley helps turn goals into manageable steps.

Therapeutic approaches and what online therapy can look like

Client-Centered Therapy focuses on offering a respectful, nonjudgmental space where clients lead the conversation and Shelley reflects back what matters most. This helps people clarify their goals and feel heard. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and is useful for managing anxiety, depression, and unhelpful behavior patterns. Mindfulness Therapy teaches attention skills and simple practices to reduce reactivity and increase present-moment awareness, which can help with stress and emotional regulation.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Shelley collaborates with each person to identify which strategies fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques from different approaches so sessions match what the client wants to try.

Session formats are not detailed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online therapy can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow check-ins from different locations when schedules are tight. It can also make shorter or more frequent follow-ups practical and let people use mindfulness or CBT exercises between appointments. Talk with Shelley about what would work best and how to structure sessions to meet your daily routines and goals.