Kia ora, I’m Kristen. If you’re thinking about starting therapy, I know it's a big decision to make. You might be feeling nervous, uncertain, excited, and ultimately you might want to know whether it's going to actually help. I know the feeling, and I know how uncomfortable it can be to sit with a stranger and talk about all the things that are hardest to say. I believe that we are wired for connection, and therapy with me focuses on how to better connect with not only others, but with ourselves, too.
My primary focus is relational therapy, particularly couples counselling, informed by certification in Relational Life Therapy (RLT), training in Emotion Focused Couples Therapy (EFT), the Gottman Method, and systemic family therapy. I'm a certified Perinatal and Postpartum Mental Health (PMH-C) practitioner as well, and I support both mums and dads navigating parenthood. In addition to my relational work, I specialise in supporting clients experiencing all kinds of grief, including parents who may be grieving the loss of a child, both prenatally and beyond.
I’m originally from California and now practise here in Ōtautahi, Christchurch as well as nationally in Aotearoa New Zealand. I hold a Bachelor’s in Psychology and a Master’s in Counselling and Career Development. I'm a partner, a parent, and I know what it's like to be the person looking for some help and wanting to make sure its worth it.
If that's where you're at, I'd be glad to help you find out.
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