PuttingFamilyFirst

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SB Portrait of Shay Bankston
Online therapist

Shay Bankston

Practical, trauma-informed support for parents and individuals

Credentials
LISW
Experience
20 years
Licensed in
Ohio
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Shay

Shay Bankston is a licensed independent social worker with 20 years of clinical experience in Ohio. She focuses on practical, evidence-based help for people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, grief, and parenting concerns. Shay aims to make sessions clear and straightforward so parents can find tools that fit day-to-day life.

She creates an affirming, person-centered space for people with diverse identities. That includes attention to LGBT issues, compassion fatigue, and challenges faced by first responders.

Background and approach

Shay also addresses control issues, hoarding, isolation, panic attacks, and post-traumatic stress. Sessions emphasize building coping skills and steady progress rather than quick fixes. Shay uses trauma-informed, evidence-based techniques tailored to each situation.

She helps clients practice new strategies and check what works between meetings. Shay offers multiple online formats including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. She works with international clients and conducts therapy in English.

Costs vary by location and depend on a subscription plan that can be canceled at any time. To begin, a prospective client selects the Start Therapy button, completes a short matching questionnaire, and schedules a time based on therapist availability. Shay aims to collaborate on goals and create a plan that fits family life and parenting needs.

Evidence-based approaches and flexible online care

Shay uses evidence-based therapeutic techniques that focus on practical skill building. One common approach she relies on teaches coping strategies for anxiety and panic, helping people learn breathing, grounding, and thought-challenging methods to reduce overwhelming symptoms. Another frequently used method is trauma-informed care, which helps people process past hurt at a pace that feels safe and rebuild day-to-day functioning.

Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. Shay will talk with each person about goals, preferences, and what feels manageable, then try techniques and adjust over time. The aim is to pick methods that make sense for family life and parenting routines, not a one-size-fits-all plan.

Online therapy options include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These formats offer flexibility for busy schedules and for people in different time zones. They also make it easier to fit short check-ins or longer sessions into a parenting day while still working toward steady progress.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Shay work with?
Shay addresses stress, anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, addictions, grief, parenting challenges, relationship and intimacy-related issues, and career or coaching concerns. Additional focus areas include ADHD, panic disorder, post-traumatic stress, isolation, hoarding, and issues affecting first responders.
What is Shay's therapeutic style?
Her approach is collaborative and person-centered, using trauma-informed, evidence-based techniques. Sessions focus on practical coping skills and steady progress tailored to each person's needs.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Shay has 20 years of experience providing mental health care and support. That background informs her work with complex emotional concerns and life transitions.
What are Shay's credentials and where is she based?
She holds the credential LISW, listed as OH LISW I.1502348-SUPV, and practices in Ohio.
In which languages can I work with Shay?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats does Shay provide?
Shay offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How are sessions paid for and what does cost look like?
Costs vary with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
What are the first steps to start therapy?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Experience
20 years
Licensed
Ohio
Languages
English

Next step

Talk to Shay

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