Doors of Growth 112

Hi! I’m Kristina, and I personally know the healing power of a safe, genuine therapeutic relationship. From the guidance counselors who shaped my early life to the personal experiences that stirred my passion for understanding trauma, my path has always been clear: to help others heal.

That journey led me to earn a Master’s Degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Adams State University in Alamosa, Colorado. But long before that, my foundation was—and still is—rooted in faith. I begin each day asking God to speak and work through me, guiding me as I serve others.

In the therapeutic space, my goal is to create a relationship built on unconditional positive regard, safe and authentic connection, emotional processing, and dedication to the healing journey. I consider it sacred work, walking alongside others as they grow, heal, and reconnect with themselves.

My Specialties:

• Narcissistic Family Systems

• Narcissistic Abuse

• PTSD

• Sexual Trauma

I’ve spent over a decade counseling in various settings and have developed an eclectic approach to therapy, integrating a wide range of modalities based on each client’s needs. These include:

• DBT (Dialectical Behavior Therapy)

• Jungian Therapy: meeting and integrating our shadow

• EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing)

• IFS (Internal Family Systems)

• Solution-Focused Therapy

• Psychodynamic Therapy

• Psychoeducation

• Trauma-Informed Care

• Existential Therapy

Clients often describe me as down to earth, kind, direct, imperfect, and deeply relational—a blue-collar soul who’s not afraid to sit with the hard stuff, and who values real, honest connection above all else.

After taking time off to navigate concurrent medical traumas, I’m beyond grateful and excited to return to what I call my “home”—the therapeutic space. It’s where I feel most like myself, and where I believe true transformation happens.

Therapy isn’t always neat or linear—it’s often messy, unpredictable, and deeply human. But just like any real home, it’s where growth takes root.

I love God, my many families (the ones we’re born into and the ones we build), counseling, education, books, plants, animals, and the lifelong journey of learning and evolving. I consider myself a holistic healer—always seeking to unlearn, learn, recognize, and rise.

 

When I look for a counselor, I seek someone who:

• Will challenge me—not just nod and smile.
• Can hold space for all my feelings, even the messy ones.
• Will even gossip with me a little, because even that part of me deserves to be seen and held with compassion.
• Lets me teach them who I am, and who I strive to become.
• Is authentic, not a perfect “clinical” mask.
• Can own their mistakes, take accountability, and show up as an imperfect human—because that’s what we all are.
• Has lived experience, not just textbook knowledge.
• Is dependable and consistent—at least 85% of the time (because let’s be real, nobody’s perfect).
• Is willing to share appropriately about themselves, when it can deepen trust and connection.
• And most importantly, someone who is genuinely invested in me and my growth—not just punching the clock for a fee.

 

What Makes Me Stay with a Counselor I stay with a counselor who:

• Makes me angry sometimes (in the good, growth-inducing way).
• Helps me gain insight and see myself more clearly.
• Can sit with my emotions, not just analyze them.
• Helps me build real rapport, so I feel emotionally connected and safe.
• Triggers me in ways that reveal unhealed parts of myself.
• Brings to light the blind spots I can’t see on my own.
• Isn't afraid to show their own feelings or tell me how I affect them.

Why This All Matters: To some, this list might seem exhausting. But to me, it’s not just a checklist—it’s the foundation of trust and safety. Knowing what I need in a counselor helps me create the space to do the real work.

So I ask you: What do you need from a counselor? What makes you feel safe, seen, and supported?

We are not all meant to be the same. Humanity is not one-size-fits-all, and neither is healing. We each carry our own unique values, beliefs, and moral compass—and that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. The mental health field needs counselors from all backgrounds and perspectives, so that everyone can find someone they feel comfortable and connected with.

My deepest, most fundamental desire? That we would live in a world where no human ever seeks to intentionally harm, sabotage, destroy, or violate another.

That’s the world I dream of—and the one I work toward, one healing conversation at a time.