- Collaborative
- Practical skills
- Strengths based
About Kristen
Kristen Smith is a licensed mental health counselor with 27 years of experience practicing in Florida. She focuses on helping people who are struggling with addictions, relationship concerns, trauma and abuse, intimacy issues, depression, anxiety, and career or life-purpose questions. She frames therapy as a collaborative effort and treats each person as the expert in their own story.
Her approach is straightforward and practical. She listens first, then helps people identify small, actionable steps they can use to manage stress, anger, or overwhelming emotions. She uses techniques from client-centered therapy to follow a person's lead and build on strengths. Cognitive behavioral strategies help challenge unhelpful thoughts and change behaviors that keep problems going.
Kristen also brings dialetical behavior therapy tools into sessions when emotion regulation or intense reactivity gets in the way of daily life. Those tools include skills for managing difficult feelings and improving interpersonal effectiveness. She tailors methods to each person's needs and goals rather than applying one fixed plan.
People come to Kristen for a wide range of concerns, including grief, sleep and eating problems, parenting stress, ADHD, and compassion fatigue. She also supports people working through issues related to adoption, attachment, and family of origin patterns. Her style is calm, practical, and rooted in respect for each person's strengths.
Taking the first step can feel hard, and Kristen aims to make that step clearer. She offers guidance, coaching, and hands-on strategies so people can move toward clearer goals and more manageable days.
How these approaches work for online therapy
Client-Centered Therapy centers the person in the room. The therapist follows the client's lead, offers empathy, and helps people notice their own strengths and choices. This approach is helpful when someone needs a supportive space to sort through feelings and decisions.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings, and actions. Sessions often involve identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and practicing different behaviors. CBT can be useful for anxiety, depression, stress, and some eating or sleeping problems.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, brings concrete skills for regulating intense emotions and managing conflict. It teaches techniques for distress tolerance, emotional balance, and clearer communication when relationships feel chaotic.
Finding the right approach is a shared process. Kristen will work with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and daily life. She adjusts the mix of skills, coaching, and reflective conversation based on what the client says is helpful.
Practical benefits of online therapy depend on the session options offered. The biography does not list formats, so confirm current options before booking. In general, online work can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy schedule, allow shorter check-ins when needed, reduce travel time, and let people choose between video or other formats when available. Licensed professionals can use these options to help clients practice skills and keep progress moving forward.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of problems does Kristen address?
She works with a broad range of concerns such as addictions, trauma and abuse, relationship and intimacy issues, depression, anxiety, and stress. Other focuses include grief, parenting strain, ADHD, and career or life-purpose questions.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her style is collaborative and practical. She listens first, helps people identify strengths, and uses clear skills and steps to address problems.
How much experience does she have?
Kristen brings 27 years of professional experience working with people on a wide range of mental health and life concerns.
What credentials and region are listed for this therapist?
She holds the credential LMHC, listed as FL LMHC, and practices in Florida.
Which languages are supported and can international clients be seen?
Sessions are offered in English. International clients are not currently accepted.
What session formats are available?
The original biography does not specify session formats; please confirm current session options before booking.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Kristen?
To start, select the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to therapist availability.