Kristina Castner, LPC - Therapist at Grow Therapy

Kristina Castner

Kristina Castner

(she/her)

LPC
8 years of experience
Virtual

Hello, what a great day to take the first step toward positive change in your life. My name is Kristina, and I am a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania with eight years of experience helping clients navigate relationship challenges, intimacy issues, anger management, parenting skills, self-esteem, and confidence. I believe that you are the expert of your own story, and within you lies the strength to overcome life’s challenges. Seeking a more fulfilling and joyful life requires courage, and I am here to support and guide you on that journey. My therapeutic approach is compassionate, collaborative, and client-centered. I use evidence-based techniques tailored to your unique needs, combining insight-oriented work with practical tools to help you make lasting changes. Whether you’re healing from emotional wounds, working through conflict, or trying to rediscover your sense of purpose, our work together will be grounded in trust and respect. I provide a safe, nonjudgmental space where you can feel heard, validated, and empowered. I am especially passionate about helping individuals break free from patterns that no longer serve them and reconnect with their inner strength and clarity. You don’t have to navigate this alone. Change is possible, and it begins with one small step. Let’s take that step together.

Get to know me

In our first session together, here's what you can expect

Clients can expect a safe, nonjudgmental, and collaborative space where we work together to define clear goals and create a personalized treatment plan. I believe therapy is most effective when it’s tailored to your unique needs and when we engage as partners in the healing process. My style is active and directive—I don’t just sit back and nod. I offer thoughtful feedback, ask meaningful questions, and guide the conversation with intention to help you gain insight and move forward. That said, I also honor the importance of having space to simply be heard. If you need time to process emotions or talk freely without interruption, I’m here to listen and hold space with compassion. Each session is shaped by what you need most in that moment, whether it’s support, structure, insight, or silence. My goal is to help you feel both empowered and supported as you navigate your challenges and work toward meaningful, lasting change.

The biggest strengths that I bring into our sessions

As both a Licensed Professional Counselor and a spiritual healer, I bring a unique blend of clinical training and intuitive insight to the therapeutic space. With eight years of experience and a deep personal commitment to spiritual growth, I guide individuals toward healing by integrating evidence-based approaches like Positive Psychology, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mind-Body awareness, and Strength-Based techniques. I believe my greatest strength lies in helping clients reconnect with their inner truth. Many people experience anxiety, depression, or emotional disconnection because they are living out of alignment with who they truly are. My role is not to "fix" anyone, but to serve as a compassionate guide—helping clients uncover their innate strengths, release limiting patterns, and move toward a life that feels authentic and empowering. Having walked my own path of transformation, I understand how challenging and liberating it can be to step into your most aligned self. That lived experience fuels my passion for supporting others through their own awakening. I offer both structure and soul in our work together—balancing practical coping skills with deep, soulful exploration that honors your unique journey. My goal is to create a safe, affirming space where you feel empowered to trust yourself, speak your truth, and explore your healing without judgment. I believe that the answers you seek are already within you; together, we’ll uncover them—one step at a time.

The clients I'm best positioned to serve

I am passionate about supporting individuals who are ready to step into their most authentic selves by integrating psychological insight with a spiritual journey toward greater self-awareness and consciousness. I believe true healing occurs when we are seen and accepted for who we are—body, mind, and spirit. For many, spirituality is an essential part of their identity, yet they often hesitate to speak openly about their beliefs out of fear of judgment, misunderstanding, or ridicule. This silence can leave them feeling isolated and disconnected, without a safe space to fully express themselves. In our work together, I strive to create a welcoming, nonjudgmental environment where all parts of you are honored. Whether you draw strength from traditional faith, metaphysical practices, energy work, ancestral connections, or a more intuitive sense of spiritual knowing, I respect and hold space for your truth. I deeply value the trust my clients place in me when they allow themselves to be vulnerable and share the beliefs that shape their inner world. I approach this with humility and reverence, knowing that each person’s path is unique. As we explore your experiences—both psychological and spiritual—you will begin to understand how past wounds, limiting beliefs, or unresolved trauma may have kept you from living as your whole self. With compassionate support, you can begin the process of releasing what no longer serves you and reconnecting with your inner wisdom. This journey is not about becoming someone new—it’s about remembering who you already are at your core. Through this integrative approach, many of my clients find deeper clarity, emotional healing, and a renewed sense of purpose. Together, we will cultivate a path toward meaningful change, personal empowerment, and soul-level transformation.

About Kristina Castner

Appointments

Virtual

My treatment methods

Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)

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.

Strength-Based

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.

Positive Psychology

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.

Mind-body approach

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.