LPC, 8 years of experience
Hi, I’m Kristina. I’m a licensed therapist who takes a relational and trauma-informed approach to healing. My work blends evidence-based practices—such as CBT, parts work, and somatic awareness—with intuitive insight to help clients move beyond survival mode and reconnect with their authentic selves. I believe therapy should be both practical and transformative. Each session is a space to slow down, feel seen, and build tools that support real-life change. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, trauma, burnout, or relationship struggles, we’ll work together to uncover the patterns shaping your story and create new pathways toward clarity and confidence. Clients often describe my style as warm, grounded, and empowering. I bring compassion, humor, and directness into the room, balancing emotional depth with actionable guidance. You can expect to be challenged when needed—but always with care, respect, and collaboration. My goal is to help you feel more at home within yourself, trust your intuition, and create a life that reflects your values rather than your past pain. Healing isn’t about “fixing” who you are—it’s about remembering who you’ve always been.
Your first session with me is all about you—your story, your pace, and your comfort. I know that starting therapy can feel both hopeful and intimidating, so my first priority is to create a space that feels safe, supportive, and free of judgment. We’ll begin by talking about what brought you here, what’s been weighing on your mind or heart, and what you’re hoping to gain from therapy. I’ll ask some questions to help me understand your background—things like what’s been working, what hasn’t, and how you tend to handle stress or emotional challenges. There’s no pressure to share everything at once. You decide how much to reveal and when. I move at your rhythm, not mine. During this first session, we’ll also go over a few logistics: confidentiality, session structure, and what our collaboration will look like. My approach is highly relational and trauma-informed, meaning I view healing as something that unfolds within a safe, attuned relationship. You can expect empathy, curiosity, and transparency from me. I don’t sit back silently—I engage with you, reflect patterns I notice, and help you make meaningful connections between your experiences, emotions, and behaviors. Many clients say they leave their first session feeling lighter, more understood, and often surprised by how quickly we get to the heart of things. You’ll walk away with more than just insight—you’ll leave with clarity about your goals, validation of your emotions, and at least one practical tool or shift you can begin applying right away. As therapy continues, we’ll explore not just the “what” of your experiences, but the “why” beneath them. My focus is helping you build self-awareness, emotional regulation, and inner trust. Sometimes we’ll use evidence-based methods like CBT or parts work (IFS-informed) to help you reframe unhelpful thoughts or understand your internal dynamics. Other times, we might incorporate mindfulness, somatic grounding, or intuitive reflection to help your body and mind reconnect after stress or trauma. You don’t have to come in with everything figured out—just a willingness to be honest about where you are. I’ll meet you there. You’ll always be encouraged to voice what feels helpful or not, and I’ll adjust our approach as we go. Therapy with me is not about perfection—it’s about progress, understanding, and creating space for healing that lasts. Ultimately, my goal is to help you feel more like yourself: grounded, capable, and emotionally free. Healing is not about fixing who you are—it’s about remembering the parts of you that got buried under pain, pressure, and survival mode. Together, we’ll uncover those parts and help them feel safe enough to come forward again. By the end of your first session, you should have a sense of how I work, what our process will look like, and—most importantly—that this is a space where you can be fully yourself, exactly as you are.
What makes my approach unique is the balance of science and soul. I use evidence-based methods—like CBT, parts work, and somatic awareness—while also tuning into the intuitive side of healing that often gets overlooked. My goal isn’t just to help you manage symptoms; it’s to help you understand yourself on a deeper level and create lasting change from the inside out. I believe therapy should feel real and relatable. You’ll find that I’m warm, grounded, and human—I’ll laugh with you, sit with you through the hard moments, and gently challenge you when needed. Sessions aren’t about perfection; they’re about progress, awareness, and learning to show up for yourself in new ways. Clients often tell me they feel seen, understood, and more connected to who they really are after working together. My approach helps you build emotional clarity, strengthen boundaries, and move beyond survival mode into a life that feels more peaceful, authentic, and free.
People often find me when they’ve reached a point where they’re ready for things to feel different—emotionally, mentally, or even spiritually. You might be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply tired of carrying so much on your own. Maybe you’ve done a lot of personal work already but still feel disconnected from peace or purpose. In our work together, we’ll slow things down and make sense of what’s happening beneath the surface. Whether you’re navigating anxiety, stress, trauma, or relationship challenges, I’ll help you uncover the patterns shaping your experience and develop tools that truly support you. You don’t need to know exactly what healing looks like yet—you just need the desire to feel more like yourself again. If you’re ready for therapy that’s real, supportive, and focused on helping you grow in a way that feels sustainable, I’d be honored to work with you.
In my practice through GrowTherapy, I focus on creating a safe, supportive space where clients can explore their challenges, gain insight, and develop tools for real, sustainable change. My experience spans a wide range of treatment approaches, and I tailor therapy to meet each client’s unique needs and goals. I often draw from evidence-based methods including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), trauma-informed care, inner child work, and mindfulness-based practices. I also incorporate somatic awareness, nervous system regulation, and parts work (like Internal Family Systems-informed techniques) when helpful. Clients tell me they appreciate that I meet them where they are — balancing structure with emotional attunement — and that our sessions feel both grounding and productive. My approach is deeply collaborative: I don’t just sit back and nod. I’m an active listener and a thoughtful challenger when necessary. Many of my clients come to therapy feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or exhausted — by trauma, high-functioning anxiety, family roles, or life transitions. Together, we work toward clarity, boundary-setting, emotional regulation, and a stronger sense of self. Ultimately, I use therapy not just as a tool for symptom relief, but as a transformational process that honors both your story and your potential.
I use a strength-based approach to help clients recognize and build on the resilience, values, and inner resources they already have — even if those strengths feel buried beneath stress, trauma, or burnout. This method is especially helpful for clients who feel overwhelmed, stuck, or disconnected from their sense of self. Rather than focusing solely on what’s “wrong,” we explore what’s working, what has helped you survive this far, and how we can amplify those parts to support healing and growth. I integrate this with other therapeutic approaches like CBT, trauma-informed care, and mindfulness, creating a collaborative and empowering experience. Clients often tell me they appreciate feeling seen not just for their pain, but for their courage, insight, and capacity for change. This work can be gentle, but it’s also powerful. When we focus on your strengths — your boundaries, your voice, your intuition — you begin to shift the story from survival to transformation.
I incorporate Positive Psychology into my work by helping clients shift their focus from what's going wrong to what gives their life meaning, purpose, and joy — without ignoring the real pain they may be experiencing. This approach is not about forced positivity, but about cultivating practices that build resilience, gratitude, hope, and connection. In session, we explore your values, strengths, and goals — not just your symptoms. I guide clients in identifying the moments that energize them, the relationships that ground them, and the small habits that can lead to big internal shifts. We may use tools like strengths assessments, values clarification, gratitude work, or envisioning future self exercises. I find Positive Psychology especially effective for clients feeling depleted, disconnected, or stuck in a loop of self-criticism. When paired with trauma-informed care and strength-based practices, it becomes a powerful way to help clients reconnect with a sense of agency and possibility.
The mind and body are deeply connected, and I approach therapy with this in mind. A mind-body perspective means that we don’t just talk about what’s going on mentally or emotionally — we also pay attention to how stress, trauma, or emotions are stored and expressed physically. In my practice, I help clients build awareness of their nervous system, identify where they may be holding tension, and develop tools to regulate from the inside out. This might include breathwork, grounding exercises, body scans, or simply learning to listen to what your body is trying to say. For many clients, especially those who have been in survival mode for a long time, reconnecting with the body is a key step toward lasting emotional healing. This approach is gentle, personalized, and always client-led. I combine it with strength-based and trauma-informed work to help clients feel safer in their bodies, more present in their lives, and more attuned to their own inner wisdom.
3 ratings with written reviews
April 29, 2025
I love Kristina; she's an amazing person, and her energy just makes you feel better. I would absolutely refer her to a friend any day.
February 27, 2025
Truly understood my goals and past experiences. I felt much better after speaking with Kristina.
January 27, 2025
Kristina us great to work with and pushes me to be accountable for my actions.