CLINICAL INTERN
Pronouns: They/She
For as long as Kris can remember, they have wanted to gain knowledge and develop skills with which to serve those around them. They instinctively knew that developing a trusting relationship, learning about others' experiences, and offering their empathy and expertise were crucial to this purpose. Rather than help people by becoming a lawyer or psychologist, Kris decided to pursue a career that offered the same opportunity to have positive impacts on the lives of others, but also allowed for more interpersonal connection and depth. After obtaining their Bachelor of Arts in Psychological Perspectives on Trauma and Healing from Western Washington University, Kris went on to work as a counselor and case manager where their desire to support the lives of those around them grew. They decided to return to school and work towards a Masters in Counseling from Saybrook University and specialize in Clinical Mental Health.
Kris believes every person deserves quality mental health care and is grateful to be able to work with others to achieve this goal. They offer therapy to individuals, couples, and families with a variety of unique experiences and concerns such as loneliness, depression, and anxiety. Kris also has experience and is passionate about working with teens and adults struggling with substance use and members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Kris's approach to therapy is person-centered and trauma-informed, with a foundation in social justice. They believe each person has a story completely unique to themselves that deserves to be heard and understood. They work to create a trusting relationship with their clients to best support them and develop a way forward. Kris pulls from therapies such as Narrative, Dialectical Behavioral (DBT), Strengths-based, Solution Focused, Motivational Interviewing, and Feminist/Queer theory.
These approaches and techniques help Kris work with their clients to discover and tap into their own wellness. While finding solutions to certain concerns is important, Kris focuses on creating a "brave space" for their clients to dig deep, uncover new perspectives, and find areas of strength and resource that often reside on the edges and ledges of our comfort zones. Kris is committed to supporting their clients in finding those places where progress is made, offering an empathetic, calm, and encouraging presence.
Kris is a bachelor-level clinician and mental health counselor intern. They are supervised by Dr. Jarryn Robinson, LMFT, PhD ( LF61213318; NPI number 1710320882).
