LCSW, 8 years of experience
Welcome! So happy to have you here. I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with nearly 10 years of experience treating a variety of individuals and age ranges. I work primarily with adults, young adults and adolescents experiencing a range of diagnoses and challenges including Bipolar disorder, ADHD, anxiety, OCD, depression, adjustment disorder, trauma, grief, familial conflict, and various life transitions. I also have experience working with the LGBTQIA+ population, as well as with couples and family psychotherapy, parent support and guidance, and academic consultation. Grab a tea, a snack, a heated blanket, your pet, a fidget, or whatever you prefer to feel cozy for our virtual sessions from the comfort of your own home. All are welcome!
The first therapy session is a time to get to know you, discuss what you are looking for, explore what types of goals and needs you have, and gather some of your relevant clinical history. I also discuss what to expect from sessions, answer any questions you have, and develop an individualized plan to best suit your needs and priorities. Together we explore if it feels like a good fit and determine how you’d like to move forward. No pressure! I'm here to help with recommendations.
I offer a warm, comforting, safe, and supportive approach. I am compassionate, empathetic and nonjudgmental towards individuals and the problems they face. I am able to consistently show up for you and commit to your treatment. It is a privilege to be a part of your life through both the joys and challenges, and I strive to provide a consistent, stable relationship for you. For many people, this can be such a special, unique and trusting therapeutic relationship that I'm grateful to have so many of.
If you are experiencing anxiety, sadness, overall life stressors, recent changes in your life, relationship issues or struggling to manage just about anything, having the right support can be so helpful. And if you are struggling to commit to yourself and your treatment, we can work to get there together at your own pace.
Unfortunately, we all experience unhelpful, disruptive thoughts. These thoughts lead to anxiety, depression, and other negative emotions and behaviors. That is why I believe emotions and life situations can improve once negative thinking patterns and thought distortions are addressed during treatment. This is what makes CBT is an effective treatment method as it helps improve thoughts and emotions and specifically addresses unhelpful thinking patterns.
From my experience as a clinician, I have found that the therapeutic relationship is the most crucial part of treatment, greatly impacting the outcome of treatment. To prioritize the therapeutic relationship, I practice flexibility with patients, considering their specific needs of each given day. This does vary from day to day, and I take that into consideration during all sessions in order to provide a safe, supportive environment and provide active listening, supportive reflection, feedback and unconditional positive regard. We all need someone who will not only help identify solutions to our problems, but to also simply listen, be present, and "sit with" our emotions, challenges and life stressors.
I frequently use mindfulness based practices through psychoeducation on meditation, breathing techinques, body scans, progressive muscle relaxation, nervous system regulation strategies, and more, as these practices are often necessary in promoting a healthy mind and body. I enjoy not only educating patients on these methods, but also providing resources to use these strategies between sessions (when the real stressors occur) in order to create the most change. I'm happy to send patients the resources they need to best support them outside of our sessions!
We all have unique strengths and protective factors. It is incredibly important for us to consider these and utilize this approach in order to empower you and help you reach your goals.
1 rating with written reviews
August 13, 2025
I came to Kristen in a panic, and she not only listened but encouraged me in ways I really needed. She is direct + clear + so willing to help patients find healthier solutions for recurring trauma.