About East Valley Family Therapy

Kristen is passionate about helping all who feel stuck, lost, or forgotten. She firmly believes everyone deserves to find their voice, and to write their own story. She also knows that sometimes help is needed to rewrite this story – which perhaps has gotten derailed through trauma and hard times – and Kristen is ready to give that support. Personable and focused, Kristen works side by side with her clients to help them create the movement they seek.

Therapy Focus

Kristen excels at working with a diverse group of clientele. She especially connects easily with kids, as well as their parents, which is a rare find in a therapist. Being at ease with both age groups, Kristen is uniquely capable of helping the family as a whole. Calming and compassionate, Kristen also clicks with individuals of all ages with anxiety and depressive disorders, as well as with couples seeking greater connection. Kristen takes an approach that recognizes the strengths and problem-solving abilities within her clients, honors their personal values, and gives them space to rewrite their story to includes their preferred future. Kristen has been trained in Emotionally-focused Therapy, one of the most leading forms of couples therapy, and receives regular consultation to further refine her approach. She has also been trained in Eye-movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) and has a proven record of effectiveness in treating trauma with this method.

Online Specialist

Most unique of all is Kristen’s ability to connect with people (including children!) online. She has a warm approach that makes her easily relatable, and she has effectively helped clients through trauma with EMDR online. Most amazingly, she has been trained in Sand Tray/Play Therapy and has an App she uses to work with kids online that helps experience the benefits of Sand Tray Therapy online. Kristen is taking these effective forms of therapy to Arizonans that may not have the ability to access these kinds of effective resources otherwise!

Credentials

Kristen is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT-16368) who brings a warm, child-centered approach to her work with individuals and families. She earned her Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Northcentral University, with a specialization in Children and Adolescents. Kristen is EMDRIA certified in EMDR and has additional training in Emotionally Focused Therapy (EFT), sand tray, and play therapy.

Before entering the field of therapy, Kristen spent over 20 years in education as an elementary teacher, special educator, school counselor, and grant coordinator in both Arizona and Vermont. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education and Psychology (Trinity College, 1997), a Master’s degree in Special Education (UTEP, 2004), and a Master’s in School Counseling (University of the Southwest, 2009). Kristen was first inspired to serve others by a caring school counselor in her own childhood, and that experience continues to shape her passion for helping children and families heal and grow.

Kristen is committed to ethical and compassionate care and adheres to the AAMFT Code of Ethics and the standards set by the Arizona Board of Behavioral Health Examiners.

Personal Life

Kristen is kind and fun to be around. She is particularly fond of blue butterflies, for their symbolism of transformation – that anything is possible. She also loves coffee! Having gone through and overcome many hardships of her own – including an ongoing battle with chronic illness as well as healing from past traumas, Kristen has learned what a gift it is to have someone listen to you and hear your story. She loves all people, but through making the Apache reservation her second home back in 1998 and has grown to love and respect these noble people and their culture, and greatly desires to serve them in any way she can.

Rates for Kristen

$160 / 50-minute session

Schedule an Appointment with Kristen