About Kristen
Kristen Kakanis is a licensed clinical social worker practicing in Tennessee with ten years of experience. She focuses on helping people facing stress, anxiety, depression, anger, and addictions. Kristen supports those working on self-esteem, relationship concerns, grief, parenting strains, career transitions, and coping with life changes.
She aims to meet people where they are and build on their strengths. Kristen believes clients know their own stories best. She offers a respectful, practical approach that centers the person's goals.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on clear steps you can try between meetings and on noticing small changes that add up over time. Her style is warm and direct. She listens without judgement and helps people identify unhelpful patterns.
Together, Kristen and the client set doable goals and track progress in straightforward ways. She uses tools from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy to challenge negative thoughts and to support personal meaning. Motivational Interviewing helps when people feel stuck or want to change habits.
Solution-Focused ideas keep sessions geared toward what will help most right now. Kristen frames therapy as a partnership. She encourages honest conversation about what works and what doesn’t.
If you want practical support for stress, relationships, or life transitions, she aims to help you move forward with clarity and purpose.
How Kristen’s Approaches Work Online
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and understanding your perspective. It helps someone feel heard and supported while they decide what changes matter most. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, looks at the link between thoughts, feelings, and actions and helps people try practical strategies to reduce anxiety or low mood.Finding the best approach is a shared process. Kristen will talk with you about your goals and preferences and suggest methods that fit your situation. Together you can try different techniques and adjust the plan based on what helps most in real life.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and visual cues. Phone sessions can be simpler when bandwidth is limited or a shorter check-in is needed. Live chat and text-based messaging work well for quick updates, brief coaching, or when writing feels easier than speaking. These options make it easier to fit therapy around work, parenting, and busy days.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Anger management
Also works with
- Addictions
- Career difficulties
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Grief
- Parenting issues
- Self esteem
- Trauma and abuse
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 10 years
- Licensed
- Tennessee
- Languages
- English