Welcome!
I’m so glad you’re here! I would love to help you make sense of what you’ve been through and reconnect with more of who you are—especially in your relationships with others and with yourself. I work with clients in person in Denver, CO, and online throughout Colorado, as well as virtually with clients in South Carolina.
I bring a warm, compassionate, and genuine approach to the therapy room. My work is trauma-informed, emotion-focused, body-centered, and deeply relational. You’ll hear me talk a lot about being gentle and kind toward yourself, getting curious about your experiences, and peeling back the layers to explore the needs, emotions, and parts of yourself that may have gone unseen or unmet.
My approach is also highly experiential. Rather than simply talking about what’s happening, we’ll slow down and become curious about your present-moment experience—including what you notice in your emotions, your body, and our therapeutic relationship. Some of my most profound experiences of growth and connection have happened when I’ve felt deeply seen and heard in the therapy space. I genuinely believe there is something transformative about having another person sit with us, make sense of our experiences alongside us, and help undo the feeling of aloneness.
As an advocate for racial and social justice and equity, I believe our context matters. Our experiences are shaped by our relationships, families, communities, identities, and the larger systems we live in. You are the expert of your life, and every part of you and your story deserves space to feel held, understood, and respected.
I’ve been working in the mental health field for over six years, with most of my training focused on Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) and Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)—approaches that incorporate attention to the body, emotions, and nervous system.
My background in culinary arts, holistic nutrition, and hospitality also shapes my relationship with this work. I’ve loved learning about the body for years, and when I began exploring the connection between the body, emotions, and trauma, I knew I had found my fit. I believe our bodies hold important information about our experiences, and learning to listen to and feel more at home in our bodies can be an important part of healing.
Ultimately, I hope therapy can help you develop a deeper understanding of yourself, feel more connected to your emotions and needs, and experience greater ease and safety within yourself and your relationships. Most of all, I would love to help you feel more at home and at ease in your body.
Biography
Originally from Buffalo, New York, I lived in a handful of states, including a decade in Charleston, SC, before landing in Denver, CO. I earned my undergrad in Culinary Nutrition from Johnson & Wales University and an MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Colorado Christian University. I am a Level 2 Accelerated Experiential Dynamic Psychotherapy (AEDP) therapist and completed Level 1 training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy. I also have training in Embodied Recovery for Eating Disorders and have been influenced by other somatic and experiential approaches, including Internal Family Systems, Emotionally Focused Therapy, and Intensive Short-Term Dynamic Psychotherapy.
Outside of the office, I love running and yoga, exploring the outdoors and reading, or hanging out with my husband, our daughter, and our goldendoodle, Theo.
Influences:
- Hillary McBride
- Brene Brown
- Mary Ainsworth
- The human body
- Nature + seasons
Rituals:
- Slow Sundays
- Running + Yoga
- Trying new recipes, especially Southeast Asian food
- Listening to a memoir on a long walk
- Time in nature
Kristen’s Library:
It’s Not Always Depression
The Wisdom of Your Body by Hillary McBride
Lost Connections
What My Bones Know
Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown
To Bless the Space Between Us