Hi! Kristina here. I personally know the healing powers of a safe therapeutic relationship. From my guidance counselors throughout school, various life experiences, and passion for learning about trauma, I was guided to earn my master's degree in clinical Mental Health Counseling at Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado.
My counseling foundation begins with God. Daily I ask him to work and speak through me, while allowing me to serve him. From there, together with my clients, we build a therapeutic relationship built on unconditional positive regard, safe connection, authenticity, knowledge, processing of feelings, and dedication to the growth and healing process.
I specialize in Narcissistic Family Systems, Narcissistic Abuse, PTSD, and Sexual Trauma. I utilize various approaches with DBT, Jungian, EMDR, IFS (Internal Family Systems), Solution-Focused, and insight-oriented . I have modalities being some of my favorite, I have been counseling clients for over a decade in various settings. My former clients would tell you I am down to earth, kind, direct, IMPERFECT, blue-collar, and possess a unique ability to personally connect with each of my clients.
I consider myself a holistic healer and am consistently seeking to recognize, unlearn, learn, heal, and evolve. I love God, my many families, counseling, books, plants and education. After almost a decade in private practice, and a break due to concurrent medical traumas, I am beyond excited to return my passion and "home." The therapeutic space is where I am at my best (most of the time), and thus why I consider my office and connection with my clients my home! Home is not always neat and tidy and often gets messy...as do the processes in therapy.
Some beliefs of mine:
I believe in God, humanity, America, two genders, integrity, kindness when possible, protection of others from all evil, trust, evolution, bodily autonomy, growth, imperfections, restorative powers of God, knowledge, insight, awareness, agape love, and guiding others throughout their healing process.
What do I look for in a counselor when I am looking for one?
Oh man, don't I know the very tough and often overwhelming exhausting search for a counselor that you click with. If you are anything like I am, when I search out a counselor, I look for someone that has similar values and beliefs, as I want to feel comfortable knowing I am being guided by someone I can trust. A clash in values can often lead to a lack of respect, which can then lead to resentments, both subconscious (dormant and not in our present sphere of recognition) and conscious (felt and aware of), and eventually an ending.
I look for someone that will challenge me, gossip with me( as this part of mine needs to be seen and heard in a safe space too), hold space for me and my many feelings, let me teach them about who I am and who I strive to be, is authentic in session and allows their parts to make mistakes, can take accountability and responsibility when they mess up (counselors are all imperfect humans with their own issues), has lived experience of issues and not just textbook knowledge, is dependable and consistent at least 85% of the time, is willing to share about themselves too when appropriate, and most importantly a person that I know is genuinely invested in me and my growth. I need to know and feel that my counselor is on my side and not just collecting a fee for service.
I seek a counselor that aligns with me in my Christian and political beliefs, as these are very real concerns of mine that cause a lot of feelings, wonderings, fears, and thoughts, and I deeply appreciate a counselor making space for these discussions. While I am a moderate republican, I want a counselor that feels secure enough to share with me where we may not align and why, so that we can engage in discussions about this. Practicing being able to disagree passionately and respectfully is important to me.
Lastly, I stay with a counselor that makes me angry, helps me gain insight, can listen to me and my feelings, that allows me to build a rapport with them, that triggers me, erupts hurt places in me, brings to light my blind spots, and isn't afraid to share their feelings with me and how I affect them. One of my most favorite counselors ever was one that when we hadn't seen one another for a while wasn't afraid to say, "hey, it was really great to see you. I have missed you." I knew she agape loved me and genuinely cared about me.
Maybe this seems like an exhausting list to some. For me, knowing this is what I want in a counselor is where the foundation of "safety to trust" begins.
I wonder what is important to you as a potential client for your counselor to offer and possess? I am not everybody's cup of tea, nor should I be. The whole of humanity doesn't possess all the same values, morals, and beliefs. That is ok, we are not supposed to. In my opinion, the mental health profession needs counselors of all backgrounds and political leanings to serve humanity, so that every human can be treated by a professional they feel comfortable with.
All this being said, please know I support all adults in their right to love whatever adult they choose, regardless of race or sex. I am pro-choice through the first semester of pregnancy, and longer in cases where threat to the mother exists.
My one fundamental desire is that we lived in a world where absolutely no human sought to intentionally harm, destroy, set-up, sabotage, or perpetrate against another human.
