Hey, I'm Kristen

A little self disclosure:

My personal experience has granted me a unique perspective on the therapeutic process. If you’ve already visited my Instagram page @kristenseetherapy, you might have noticed that I am incredibly earnest about my mental health journey. In short: I’ve struggled too and now identify as a “wounded healer”. I know how intimidating therapy can be as a first timer; I understand how annoying it can be to start over with a new therapist, and I’ve also learned how the right therapist can really make all the difference. 

Fun facts about me: 

  • All video calls will include a free visit from at least 1 of my 3 cats.

  • I love creative projects. Currently, I’m renovating my home and creating spaces that inspire better mental health and accommodate neurodiversity in my family.  

  • I love reality TV, paperback books, yoga & paddle boarding, writing, creating, and crafting, making strained glass pieces, and spending time at my cottage,

  • I’ve learned to prioritize my peace & I take my rest seriously.

  • I was raised in a small town in Ontario; I’ve lived and studied in NYC; I currently live in the GTA .

  • I was diagnosed with ADHD late in life and also navigate challenges that come with PCOS.

  • My favourite therapeutic modalities are trauma-informed ACT, DBT, and somatic healing.

  • My “specialty” is working with neurodivergent women and women who identify with traits of borderline personality disorder (BPD).


Lessons I’ve learned from my own healing

the healing process is infinite

the healing process is infinite

CLIENTS

I work one-on-one with Individuals; mostly women, age 18+

SPECIALTY

Trauma & attachment wounds, relationship issues, self-esteem, emotional awareness & regulation, distress tolerance.

STYLE

Relaxed and relational; a balance of unbiased encouragement and firm support; respectful of each client as the expert of their experience.

Existential & “person-first” – I love helping clients take control by nurturing their own sense of responsibility for their wellness.

APPROACH

and never linear.

and never linear.

MY VALUES & BELIEFS


1.

I believe everyone can benefit from therapy (assuming you have the right therapist!). I hope to live in a world someday where having a therapist is akin to having a dentist or a family doctor. The reality is mental health and physical health influence one another, so to focus on only one side of the equation, I believe, is a disservice to the self.

2.

All food is good food. You won’t hear any promotion of diet-culture or fatphobia in session with me. I believe you can be healthy at any size; the number on the scale is arbitrary – processing the trauma that inspired a rigid mindset is where the real work is. 

You’re allowed to set boundaries or go no-contact with parents and/or family. I will always encourage you to prioritize your peace. 

3.

4.

I believe what it means to “heal” is somewhat ephemeral and tends to change as we get older. That is, the more lived experience we acquire, the more awareness we can inject into processes like meaning-making. What feels healed today may take on a new form tomorrow. So, when it comes to therapy, slower is better - it’s important to give the self some room to grow, and that cant be rushed. 

How Therapy Works

Psychotherapy, like counselling, is a health care treatment available to anyone who is interested in exploring and teasing out answers to questions such as, “why am I like this?” Maybe you already know some of the answers to your questions and are looking for on-going support through skill-building. 

In session it’s not uncommon for us to review childhood and adolescent experiences and work to make connections to present day concerns. Typically, I offer my clients feedback in the form of “psychoeducation” – this can look like providing you with insight on things like trauma and triggers and the role of the nervous system and the brain. I love helping clients make sense of their experiences and a key feature of this work is learning skills like: self-compassion and self-validation; regulating and owning emotional experiences; discerning personal needs and communicating effectively, and generating greater acceptance of things that can’t be changed. 

Standard sessions are 50 minutes, and my goal is to make sure this time feels more like a conversation than an interrogation. Like a conversation, sometimes there is silence or pauses for reflection or emotion; sometimes we get a little interactive as we practice skills. Every client approaches this time differently and I aim to respect your agenda and the ways you feel most comfortable unpacking your experiences. 


Looking for more info?