LCSW, 12 years of experience
Welcome and thanks for stopping in. My name is Kristy, I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and my pronouns are she/her/hers. My ancestry is both Native American and northern European. I have been working in this field since 2013 and I have seen how overwhelming life can feel these days. There are so many pressures at home, at school and work, with your relationships and in society at large! Have you been feeling stressed, anxious, and/or worried about your future? Perhaps you feel consumed with thoughts about how you compare to others and what others think of you? Is your mind full of racing thoughts about how you just might not be good enough? Or perhaps there is a relentless inner critic that won't let you off the hook? I know how this feels because I have been there myself and I can tell you it does not have to be this way. You can learn to develop a different kind of relationship with yourself: One in which you can learn how the mind works & how to navigate its unhelpful & painful patterns more effectively; one in which you can discover how to approach yourself with kindness & support--the way you would a good friend in pain; one in which you uncover your strengths, gifts & values and allow this self-knowledge to help you make decisions in your life of which you feel proud. Are you feeling ready to dive deeper into your unconscious patterns that are affecting the way you live? Are you thinking you do not want to do some of the same ineffective things in your life that perhaps your caregivers did? I invite you to reach out to begin this deeper exploration.
In our first session, we'll focus on getting to know you and what is bringing you into therapy. We'll spend the first several minutes talking about how therapy works and going over a few administrative matters. You will have a chance to ask me any questions on your mind. Then we will spend the rest of our time exploring your current life circumstances and needs. Once we both feel I understand what is going on, this will lead to the co-development of your treatment plan.
I enjoy providing a space for you in which you feel safe so you can go inside yourself and explore the deeper parts of yourself. In our work together you will feel seen, heard, safe, encouraged and empowered. This environment can lead to important insight that will help you embody the healthy change you are seeking.
I am a therapist who loves guiding you inward to the deeper parts of yourself. I want to be there with you and for you as you get to know and understand parts of yourself more clearly and lead you into healing work using the Internal Family Systems approach. I offer an environment in which my clients feel safe enough to open up to themselves in order to see more clearly, understand more deeply and heal. I work with both adolescents and adults.
In this approach, you are the expert on you and I am your guide. We will turn your focus inward, where you will become aware of the parts of you that are in pain, why they cause pain and then you will be guided into a healing process led by the wisest part of you.
I have been certified by Tara Brach and Jack Kornfield as a Mindfulness Teacher and I also teach young people Mindful Self Compassion. Learning to develop a new relationship with yourself that is filled with understanding and kindness is a healing step toward a life you love.