LGBT therapists in Waterbury, CT

If you've lost someone to suicide, you know that grief doesn't fit neatly into a box, and finding a therapist who truly understands that kind of loss can feel impossible. I've spent my career doing crisis work alongside police departments and mobile crisis units, and I specialize in working with people navigating suicide loss, as well as first responders and fellow mental health professionals who carry more than most people realize. If that sounds like you, you're in the right place.

For almost 15 years, I've walked alongside people through some of the hardest moments of their lives — whether that's anxiety that won't quiet down, depression that makes everything feel heavier, the aftermath of trauma, or the strain that pulls relationships apart. I'm a Licensed Clinical Social Worker offering telehealth therapy to adults, couples, and families, and I believe deeply that healing happens in a space where you feel genuinely seen and never judged.

My approach is collaborative and evidence-based — drawing on tools like CBT, DBT, and trauma-focused therapy — but the methods always come second to the relationship. Having worked across hospitals, emergency settings, college campuses, and private practice, I'm comfortable with everything from everyday stress to moments of real crisis.

Reaching out for support takes courage, and you don't have to have it all figured out before we begin. If you're ready to take that first step, I'd be honored to take it with you.

Therapy isn’t supposed to feel like performance. It’s supposed to feel like relief.

I’m Kristen — a licensed clinical social worker who’s spent over 20 years supporting people through transitions, overwhelm, and deep life work. I live in South Portland, Maine with my family, and I understand firsthand the emotional labor, coordination, and internal pressure that come with being a capable, high-achieving woman and mother.

As someone who is neurodivergent myself, I intimately understand the cost of masking — and what it takes to stop performing and start feeling and living.

I explore a patient's need for external validation and identify old, negative motivators used to inspire achievement-based goals. I teach self-care and self-regulating practices while modeling healthy attunement. Together, we explore conflict-avoidant behaviors and healthy dependency. Being a highly sensitive person is not a weakness but an empathic strength. I explore the guilt, shame, and fear that cause "analysis paralysis." I analyze unhealthy habits and teach clients to build trust and reconnect with a traumatic body that no longer trusts. You are the expert and I am your guide.

With 20 years of experience, I am a licensed therapist here to support you through life's ups and downs. I provide individual therapy in a safe and nonjudgmental environment, using evidence-based practices attuned to your specific needs. I believe that therapy will help you navigate current challenges -- as well as provide insight and skills that will continue to benefit you in the future, long after our sessions end.