About Me
I am a professional counselor licensed in Georgia with 8 years of experience working as a therapist in both outpatient and hospital settings. I graduated with my Master's degree from Mercer University in Atlanta, GA in 2013 and have loved helping clients reach their goals ever since. I have worked with clients that range in ages from 4 years old to 92 years old of multiple ethnic and racial backgrounds, cultures, political affiliations , genders and sexuality, and spiritual beliefs dealing with a variety of concerns. I have experience working with clients presenting with issues concerning depression, grief, self-esteem, anxiety, trauma, abuse, relationship conflict, psychosis, self-harm, domestic violence, and addiction.
I am a firm believer in therapy and, having my own therapist, I know having someone to talk to where you feel comfortable, supported, respected, and accepted is so crucial. My counseling style is down-to-earth, laid back, and friendly. We all have our struggles and I am here to walk through it with you. I love working with my clients to come up with practical, creative solutions to the issues that brought them to therapy. I love helping people realize their potential and that they are beyond capable of being their best selves. I can't wait to work together to achieve your goals and become that happier, healthier, best version of yourself!
Specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Trauma and abuse
- Depression
Addictions , LGBT , Grief , Intimacy-related issues , Parenting issues , Anger management , Self esteem , Bipolar disorder , Coping with life changes , Compassion fatigue , ADHD , Abandonment , Body Image , Cancer , Read more...
Clinical approaches:
Client-Centered Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Narrative Therapy, Solution-Focused Therapy, Trauma-Focused Therapy
Services Offered
Messaging
Live Chat
Phone
Video
Licensing
LPC #LPC011117 (Expires: 2022-09-30)
Reviews
These quotes represent just a few of the many positive reviews that we have received for Shelley Akerman. We don’t pay anyone to provide their review and they are all made voluntarily. Some people's experience receiving therapy with BetterHelp might be different.
Shelly is THE BEST!!!
best therapist slash health professional i have encountered in my life
Having Shelley as my therapist has been incredible so far, she not only listens to me, but gives me so many gems that I will take with me for the rest of my life. From the moment we first matched up, I knew this would be an incredible experience. She’s already given me so much to digest on & work through with different things I’ve been going through and reminds you to process things on your time or share things when you feel ready to. She doesn’t force anything out of you, is really inclusive and is relatable in a lot of ways. It feels like talking to a friend and I’d highly recommend her!
Shelley is very attentive and understanding. She has helped me process recent, difficult events in my life and helped me understand my role in those events.
Shelley’s guidance and kindness was the reason I signed on for a whole entire year with BetterHelp for 2022. She has helped me change my life for the better and having her as a resource and confidant is such a relief! I recommend all of my friends and family to BetterHelp because of my time with her.
I didn't really know what to expect going into therapy on Betterhelp's platform but Shelley Akerman has made this experience amazing. I got so much out of the first few sessions and I keep seeing improvement. Shelley Akerman is thoughtful, knowledgeable, empathetic, and supportive.
She listens to me, validates my concerns and helps me see things in a different light as needed.
I feel supported, and more stable in my everyday life, as I get more confident in my ability to see through my cognitive distortion.
Shelley was my therapist last year through a different company. I connected instantly with her and she helped me through the most difficult time of my life. She moved on to BetterHelp and I later joined to have her again as my therapist. Not only does she fully listen, she doesn’t judge but makes me feel as if I can tell her anything. And I do. Big and small things. The connection I have made with her is one of trust and openness. I would recommend her to anyone ready to seek help or become more healthy.
I don't know where to shart. Shelley is absolutely incredible and so kind hearted. She's a very good Christian person and just has so much compassion and guidance. I started out struggling with anxiety and depression and she guided me, giving me the tools, resources as support to help me deal with these things. I really adore Shelley and i encourage you all to choose her as your therapist.
Sincerely:
Angie
Shelley has a wealth of experience that she leans on, on top of her knowledge and wells of compassion. Because of this, she is a delight to speak with, personable, takes the time to actually listen to everything even if it can turn into a rant. And then after all the ranting? She cuts through to the heart of the matter and then teaches the tools and methods of overcoming what was once crippling anxiety and combing through traumas that I didn’t even realize were overarching patterns that were not to my benefit. With her guidance, she teaches me to be gentle with myself, and I think most importantly, how to navigate the highs and lows of life to keep growing while also learning to believe in myself.
Shelly is an incredible therapist! I would highly recommend working with her. She is highly compassionate and always very validating. She’s a great listener. She always helped me to feel better, and to feel seen and heard. She regularly messaged me to check in on how I was doing in between sessions, especially if she knew I was having an extra hard time. She is an experienced and skilled therapist, yet also manages to feel down to earth and relatable. She’s friendly and enthusiastic and I always enjoyed and appreciated our sessions. She is timely both for sessions and how quickly she would reply to my messages. She has really helped me through a difficult year, and I’ve been able to make important life changes due to her support. I am very grateful for Shelley and the effort she puts into being a therapist!
From the moment I started communicating with Shelley, I knew she was the right fit for me. She has the same mindset as me. She is professional and kind and so helpful to me. I am truly grateful for Shelley and Better Help for making it simple and easy to get the right help that was especially picked for my needs.
Thanks for all that you do Shelley! Love ya Girl
While Shelley is my therapist I really see her as a friend, as well, she manages to help me talk through my issues even if I end up going on a rant about something completely unrelated.
It is really nice just having someone to sit down and talk to about my life and the things I am thinking, this allows me to get some perspective on things.
I would highly recommend Better Help and Shelley to anyone who wasn't sure if therapy was for them.
Shelly is so easy to talk to and addresses all my concerns and needs therapeutically. It's like talking to a friend really! She's very open minded and has taught me ways to handle my SEVERE anxiety that nothing can put a dent in aside from occasional zannex. She has been so helpful and understanding and I don't feel judged at all like I have with other counselors. She's amazing I couldn't recommend her more. She is funny and sweet and has made a huge difference in my life.
She is a great person in general. Very nice, helpful, thoughtful, and experienced councilor. I felt much better after having her as a councilor. She listens to me and helps me to listen to myself and my thoughts and feelings. I'll continue with Better help because of her.
Shelley is an extremely sweet and nice person! She is very emphatic and considerate. Listens to your problems and helps to find a way to deal with it that works the best for every individual.
Shelley is a source of light and motivation in this journey. She truly listens to you , checks in if her analysis rings true to you and works with what you can handle . I completely believe her help and guidance will bring me closer to mental clarity !
I love her. She listens and makes me feel better.
Shelley Ackerman Is very compassionate listens,understands, wants better for me and goes beyond Shelley is so wonderful and awesome thank you so much
Shelley is a wonderful and empathetic counselor. We work really well together so far and I'm very happy with the services I receive from them.