- Years in practice
- 20
- Credentials
- LISW
- Licensed in
- Ohio
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
- Focus
- Depression
About Shay
Shay Bankston is a Licensed Independent Social Worker (LISW) in Ohio with 20 years of clinical experience. She focuses on practical help for people facing stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, and major life changes. Shay writes and talks plainly with clients about manageable steps forward.
She creates an affirming space that respects diverse identities, including people in LGBTQ communities. Shay offers focused support around social anxiety, isolation, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress.
Background and approach
She also brings attention to the needs of first responders and people coping with addiction or compassion fatigue. Her style is collaborative and person-centered. Sessions aim to identify what is most helpful now and build coping skills that fit everyday life.
Shay works with clients on relationship strain, intimacy concerns, grief, anger, career stress, and parenting challenges. Shay uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques and a trauma-informed lens to guide treatment choices. She helps people practice new ways of responding to stress and regain a sense of control after difficult events.
Practical tools and short-term strategies are mixed with longer-term work when needed. Clients can expect straightforward conversation, skill practice, and goal-focused planning. Shay also supports people dealing with ADHD, hoarding, HIV/AIDS-related issues, panic disorder, and social phobia.
Her aim is to help people return to daily life with clearer coping strategies and more confidence.
What Shay works with
Everything Shay lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Shay helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Control issues
- First responder issues
- HIV / AIDS
- Hoarding
- Isolation / loneliness
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Post-traumatic stress
- Social anxiety and phobia
Evidence-based techniques and online care
Shay uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on skills people can practice between sessions. One common approach emphasizes learning coping skills for anxiety and panic attacks, teaching breathing and grounding methods alongside ways to reframe anxious thoughts. Another strand of work centers on trauma-informed strategies to help people process past events and reduce their impact on daily life, using gradual exposure to distressing memories and building stabilization skills.Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Shay will work with each person to figure out which techniques match their goals, needs, and preferences. Together they decide whether to focus first on short-term coping skills, deeper trauma work, or a mix of both depending on what feels most useful.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues, phone sessions fit into busy schedules or when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be useful for quick check-ins, and text-based messaging supports brief updates or ongoing reflection. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around work, parenting, or other obligations while still using proven therapeutic methods.
Questions people ask about Shay
What kinds of concerns does Shay address?
Shay focuses on stress, anxiety, depression, trauma, addictions, and coping with life changes. She also works with issues like grief, intimacy problems, parenting challenges, ADHD, and career stress.
How would you describe her therapy style?
Her approach is collaborative and person-centered. She uses practical skill-building and short-term strategies alongside deeper trauma-informed work when needed.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Shay has 20 years of experience as a clinician. That background includes work with first responder issues, compassion fatigue, and complex trauma.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds an LISW credential and practices in Ohio. The profile lists her as an Ohio LISW.
In which language are sessions offered and can international clients join?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How does pricing work for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What is the first step to begin working together?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.
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