LCSW, 12 years of experience
Being a human is hard work! In therapy, we can learn, grow, and play with our experiences as a team. Together, we can learn to accept and value both the amazing and difficult things that come with a rich, meaningful life. Sometimes the challenges of life get in the way of our ability to access our individual and collective power to heal. Therapy offers a space to discover the parts of us that have become burdened and lovingly invite them to reconnect with our truest selves. Based out of Indianapolis, Indiana, I've worked in community mental health since 2012 and received my Masters from Indiana University School of Social Work. I have formal experience using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, Trauma-Focused CBT, trauma Informed therapy, and play therapy in a individual, family, and parent-child structure.
Therapy is an incredibly individualized experience, and there are many types of therapists - not everyone will be the best fit for you. It's important for you to feel confident that we will be able to work together to address the specific challenges you're facing. Feel free to bring any questions you may have- a first session is an opportunity for you to interview me! After introductions we will go through the initial assessments sent before our meeting and create a plan of services to best meet your needs and address your concerns. Please note: your time is incredibly valuable, as is your commitment to yourself in therapy. To reflect this, a $50 no show fee will be charged if cancelling an appointment after 12pm the same day, or if more than 15 minutes late to an appointment without notifying me. This ensures we are able to reschedule to a time that best fits your needs, and/or that the opportunity to book a time is not taken from others. Thank you for understanding!
Creating a safe, positive, and nonjudgmental environment for you to be your truest self and explore what is most important to you is something I take very seriously. I ensure that therapy is engaging and productive, fun, and challenging. I've worked with children, teens, and young adults for years and have learned that everyone's experiences are unique and their own- my job is to help you feel confident telling your story.
My therapeutic style draws from integrated therapeutic practice, mindfulness-based approaches, and an awareness of the systems and underlying structures at play. I have a deeply rooted passion for working with and affirming folks in the Queer community as well as young adults, adolescents, and children ages 6+. I can be helpful to individuals experiencing anxiety, ADHD, depression, and trauma, as well as those who want to explore their relationships with others, themselves, their bodies, and substances.
Kris Gale offers therapy covered by Managed Health Services (Managed Medicaid), Medicaid - Managed Health Services and UnitedHealthcare/Optum - Medicaid in Indiana.
I've been using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy since 2018 to help people identify what they can and cannot control, and to explore ways to mindfully reduce distress and identify ways to better regulate emotional responses to things outside of your control. DBT is also a great method to improve communication and relationships, and can be used to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been a part of my practice since 2012. It's helped many of my clients explore how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors influence each other to create the patterns in their lives. Taking it a step further with Trauma-Focused CBT allows us to work together to explore and reduce the impact traumatic experiences have on your life.
Structural family therapy explores and address the dynamics, roles, and boundaries within the family to address concerns and improve the quality of life of everyone in the home.
Your life experience is uniquely yours, and there times in life when that walk can feel like a run, a slog, or like you're in freefall. Trauma Informed Care means an acknowledgement of your life experiences without assumptions or judgement. You are more than just what you've been through, and what you've been through helps inform who you are.