Greetings! My name is Kristine, License Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), bilingual (Spanish/English), and based in the Sacramento region. I received my degree in 2016 from San Jose State University and have held positions within corporations, government systems, and nonprofits which led me to private practice in 2020. I have had the privilege to support children, adolescents, young adults, general adult community, and elders throughout my career and find fulfillment with this diversity. I provide therapy with a person-centered approach and tailored guidance to address emotional, behavioral, and relational issues. My areas of focus include ADHD, anxiety, coaching, depression, domestic violence, family conflict, grief and loss, relationship issues, spirituality, substance use, trauma, and issues related to life transitions. I'm experienced with the complexities of acute mental illness, navigation through the mental health system, criminal justice system specifically for victims of crime, first-hand knowledge of being a parent, grandparent, and receiving therapy myself to sort through life's challenges. During our work together, you'll gain valuable insight into yourself and the factors which may have hindered your personal growth. My approach is rooted in empathy and I aim to reduce problematic symptoms and improve clients' self-esteem, insight, and overall quality of life.
In our first session, we'll start with brief introductions and discuss your expectations for therapy. We will also discuss your current challenges and what an ideal outcome may look like for you. This will allow me to understand your goals and how I can best support you in future sessions.
As a bilingual (Spanish/English) therapist with extensive experience serving diverse communities, I bring a compassionate and empathetic approach. I'm experienced with the complexities of acute mental illness, navigation through the mental health and criminal justice systems specifically for victims of crime, first-hand knowledge of being a parent, grandparent, and receiving therapy myself to sort through life's challenges. I believe that feeling seen, heard, and valued are fundamental to any relationship and provide a safe, warm, and encouraging environment to support you on this journey of discovery.
The life stages from childhood to adulthood can be extremely challenging to navigate and I foster an environment that is validating and accepting amid these challenges. With a deep understanding of the difficulties my clients face, I aim to empower my clients to navigate life's transitions with resilience and confidence.
CBT increases awareness of inaccurate or negative thinking so you can view challenging situations more clearly and respond to them in a more effective way. I will support you to identify, challenge, and reframe negative thoughts which are barriers to the life you deserve.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy is to provide a balance between compassion and validation regarding issues and mental health symptoms experienced which will support your ability to modify how challenges are being processed. I support my clients to learn new skills, improve emotion regulation, and learn how to have healthy relationships.
SFBT is based on positive psychology principles and practices, and it's designed to help clients change by exploring their current resources and future hopes. I use this method to support you to achieve an identified goal while focusing on your strengths to achieve this and look forward to the future.
I have found mindfulness based therapy to be effective when treating addiction, anxiety, and depression. Combining mindfulness and CBT helps clients to gain coping skills and increase present moment awareness.