Kristi Whitford , LCSW

Kristi Whitford is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with over 20 years of experience supporting people in crisis. She focuses on mental health crisis and trauma, depression and anxiety, work with special needs populations, adjustment disorder, and relational issues affecting adults as well as parent-child dynamics.

Her approach is warm and empathetic, grounded in a nonjudgmental stance that prioritizes listening and genuine engagement. As a client-centered therapist, she tailors care to each person rather than applying a one-size-fits-all method, helping clients identify practical steps that match their values and circumstances.

Kristi recognizes that current events and life transitions can amplify stress and uncertainty, and she encourages those seeking help by acknowledging the courage it takes to reach out. She emphasizes partnership in the therapeutic process, working collaboratively to set goals and develop coping strategies that address immediate concerns and longer-term wellbeing.

Therapeutic Approaches and Online Care with Kristi Whitford

Kristi commonly draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and client-centered therapy to support clients online. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people acknowledge difficult thoughts and feelings while identifying personal values and taking meaningful action - it is often useful for anxiety, depression, and chronic stress. Client-centered therapy emphasizes empathy, active listening, and respect for each person's perspective, creating space for self-exploration and growth in areas like relationship struggles, self-esteem, and adjustment.

She also uses motivational interviewing techniques when ambivalence about change is present. Motivational interviewing focuses on eliciting a client's own motivations and strengthening commitment to goals, which can be especially helpful for substance use, behavior change, and commitment-related concerns. Determining the best approach is collaborative - Kristi partners with each person to tailor methods based on needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress unfolds.

Online therapy with a licensed professional offers practical flexibility. Video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging allow therapy to fit into varied schedules and life demands, making it easier to maintain continuity of care and access support from different locations when needed.