Kristen is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, LCSW from the United States with an advanced Master’s degree in Clinical Social Work from the University of Denver and a Bachelor’s degree BA in Psychology. Kristen is also a Registered Social Worker with the SWRB and a member of ANZASW in New Zealand. Kristen has been practicing for over 20 years and has a wide breadth of knowledge in the treatment of mental health issues, working across the life span from childhood through the elder years. Before joining Talking Cure Kristen was in private practice for 6 years in Hawaii dedicating her work to helping her clients recover from complex trauma conditions.
Kristen specializes in trauma as well as depression, anxiety, self-harm, parenting, couples and family dynamics. Kristen draws upon her training, research and experience in EMDR, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Ego Psychology using IFS principals, Attachment theory, Family Systems and EFT for couples to promote sustainable change. She enjoys integrating somatic tools from the Neuroaffective Relational Model (NARM), Somatic experiencing, Hakomi, Polyvagal theory and Neuroaffective touch (NAT) to enhance how a person can experience recovery and healing. Kristen is also certified in trauma informed bodywork practices and holds a License to practice massage (LMT) in the US.
Kristen’s approach to therapy is to build trusting relationships that allow for safety and authenticity to support the natural unfolding of the healing process. In the work, she focuses on cultivating increased self-awareness and creating space for emotions to be resolved. By developing new narratives and behaviors Kristen’s client learn to express their needs and wants in beneficial ways. She assists those she works with to recognize their natural potential, and innate gifts to move past unhealthy patterns and live the best life possible.