My name is Kristine and I would love to collaborate with you! I assist individuals who are coping with anxiety, depression, relationship/family issues, life changes, and other destabilizing stressors. I practice cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and my therapeutic style is warm and encouraging. What is CBT? It's the work of understanding how our thoughts, emotions, and behaviors interact, and developing expertise in our feedback loops to effect positive changes in our lives. In addition to cognitive-behavioral therapy, my background includes mindfulness-based stress reduction. I earned a Master of Science in Social Work from Columbia University and have since found my niche working with adults in clinical settings. My experience includes providing therapy, counseling, and crisis intervention to clients presenting with a broad range of issues, including substance misuse and abuse, trauma, and major chronic and/or life-threatening medical conditions.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

I hope that each session provides you with insight about yourself and your relationships that you can implement to realize progress toward your therapeutic goals. I also hope you find some lasting relief in verbalizing painful or challenging areas of your life in a caring and judgment-free setting. Finally, I hope you leave the session with a few definite or potential answers to your questions, but that you also leave with more questions! The processes of self-discovery and growth are lifelong and CAN be fun, exciting, and meaningful!

What treatment methods and tools do you utilize?

It depends upon your presenting challenges and your goals! In general, I am CBT-oriented and use mindfulness-based techniques as needed. So as we process your day-to-day experiences, we will examine any repetitive, automatic thoughts and how such thoughts influence our emotions and behavior and vice versa. We might also examine the role of formative experiences in shaping those thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Then, as a team, we can develop techniques to interrupt dysfunctional feedback loops.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

I have found in my practice that we as humans are simultaneously grappling with the day-to-day challenges of the "here and now" AND broader existential questions about our identity, values, life goals, and purpose. The thread linking our day-to-day challenges and the "big questions" is unique for each of us, and I am adept at assisting in the identification and understanding of that thread. With that understanding, I hope I can assist you in improving your day-to-day functioning as well as envision and realize a more cohesive, value-based, purpose-driven life.

About Kristine Bartos