Kristina Gonzalez
Hi there I’m Kristina, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker providing tele-health psychotherapy to adults across California. Over my 12-year clinical career, I have refined my skills across mental health agencies, hospitals, government organizations, and non-profit clinics.A vital part of
I started my career supporting individuals cope with the previous and current experiences of intimate partner violence.
effective therapy is the relationship we build together, so I practice with a deep commitment to cultural humility, honoring the diverse backgrounds and global upbringings of my clients, a commitment that keeps my practice curious, humble, and grounded. I also pride myself on being deeply approachable and easy to talk to, creating an atmosphere of safety where clients feel comfortable sharing things they have previously hesitated to speak aloud. I honor your pacing completely, ensuring that even the most sensitive or difficult topics are held with the utmost respect, confidentiality, and care.
First session
In our first session I will ask you many questions in a conversational style that will allow me to get to know you, learn more about your history, your current life circumstances, and your goals for therapy. This is also a time where you can ask me questions and clarify what kind of support you are looking for.
Strengths
My clients often tell me that I am good at asking the tough questions, challenging their thought processes, and helping them gain greater insights and perspectives on their past, present, and wishes for the future. I also like to take time to obtain feedback to be sure that my clients are receiving the care they had in mind when stepping into therapy. I work hard to be flexible and take my time to understand my clients as best as possible.
Treatment methods
Cognitive Behavioral (CBT)
I utilize a CBT approach for adults struggling with depression, anxiety, and adjustment disorders, and survivors of intimate partner violence as a tool to educate on maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. We might utilize a thought log to gain better awareness of your inner-dialogue, identify feelings in connection to thoughts and behaviors, and identify unhelpful behaviors keeping you stuck or exacerbating negative symptoms.
Dialectical Behavior (DBT)
I utilize DBT skills education to support you with symptoms related to Borderline Personality Disorder, Bipolar Disorder, depression, anxiety, and relational and interpersonal issues. The four primary DBT skills are strategies that educate on mindfulness, emotion regulation, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance.
Narrative
I utilize a Narrative Therapy approach when supporting adults with processing relational or childhood trauma. Allowing you to tell your life story in a safe and empathetic space while also recalling your experiences to improve upon how you view your story as something that is outside, and not who you are.
Eclectic
We often have complex needs and one particular modality may not be able to support our work together so I often utilize multiple therapies and approaches. I often pull from CBT, DBT, Narrative, Motivational Interviewing, and Trauma-informed.
Somatic
After our initial assessment this work consists of multiple phases. First I educate my clients on how the nervous system works and how our body holds onto trauma in the body. Then, we work together to identify how your body is stuck, whether you are feeling numb and disconnected, or anxious and hyper-vigilant. I would then guide you through various techniques that stimulate the vagus nerve. Some techniques I often teach and guide my clients through are breathing exercises, gentle yoga, and humming.
Location
Virtual sessions