Kristen Nurkowski
I'm Kristen LCSW & I've spent decades helping others navigate through the difficult times in their life. My career started in the mid-2000's as a Special Ed teacher at an all boys' residential behavior mod program, when after about 5yrs I realized that education was the surface of their issues and that I wanted to become a therapist. Which is what I did. Went to Rutgers grad school, worked 5yrs prison re-entry, then 5yrs dual dx IOP, before moving into my current role in private practice.
It was my own personal traumas and difficulties experienced earlier in life that originally set me on this path of whole person wellness and personal recovery.
First session
During the first session, I like to get to know the client, establish rapport, exploring areas of concern, acknowledging strengths and identifying treatment targets to make sure we're a good fit. We cover therapeutic disclaimers, Telehealth limitations, and complete the intake biopsychosocial, as well as answering any questions the client may have.
Strengths
It was my own personal traumas and difficulties experienced earlier in life that originally set me on this path of whole person wellness and personal recovery. Not only do I have a wealth of personal knowledge and lived experience, but several decades of professional experience as well. Therefore I'm highly culturally sensitive and diverse, integrating biological, psychological and spiritual components in my work with clients, at which ever level they are comfortable with.
Ideal clients
I've been working with individuals from all walks of life, personally and professionally throughout my life, therefore I'm comfortable with many age groups, genders, nationalities and cultures. From early childhood education, adolescent special ed, adult prison re-entry, addiction rehab and most recently serving high functioning adults in private practice. All I'm looking for in a client is willingness & open mindedness to step outside their comfort zone to try new things, perhaps experience a new truth.
Treatment methods
Acceptance and commitment (ACT)
ACT is a values based therapy that incorporates use of present moment awareness, driving values, cognitive defusion (witnessing thoughts), acceptance, new committed values based actions and identifying with self as context to increase psychological flexibility and create room for alternative thoughts, feelings and behaviors. We are being driven by values whether we are conscious of them or not. ACT is a mindful way to treat disorders by offering self compassion while taking new committed actions.
Schema Therapy
Schemas are repeated patterns of behavior that happen throughout our lives originating in childhood. Originally they are adaptive for the child's survival, but as we become adults these behaviors become more problematic. After taking an assessment your top 3-5 schemas will be indicated which we will explore childhood origins, impacts of functioning you recognize today and the goal of schema therapy is to develop new healthy adult mode.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
DBT incorporates use of Emotional Regulation, Mindfulness, Distress Tolerance, and Interpersonal Skills by helping clients recognize unhelpful cognitive, emotional or behavioral responses, implementing one of the many coping strategies to establish wise mind states.
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
Understanding the link between our thoughts, emotions and behaviors. Utilizing various CBT strategies including cognitive distortions, disputation questions, and new committed actions.
EMDR
Treats maladaptive (trauma) memories and builds adaptive (empowering) memories by utilizing bilateral stimulation.
Location
Virtual sessions