About Kristine
Kristine Donaldson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who brings 14 years of direct clinical experience to her practice in Illinois. She focuses on helping people manage anxiety, depression, grief, and life changes. Her way of working is straightforward and practical.
Clients meet a therapist who values clear communication and respect. Kristine builds a collaborative plan that fits each person's needs. She uses methods that teach skills, change unhelpful thinking, and process painful memories.
Background and approach
Her approach includes cognitive behavioral techniques to address negative thought patterns. She also uses dialectical skill-building to help with emotional regulation and distress tolerance. For people with trauma, she incorporates EMDR to process disturbing memories alongside emotion-focused work.
Kristine often helps with stress related to work, relationship difficulties, parenting strain, and substance concerns. She also supports people dealing with shame, isolation, obsessive thoughts, panic, and mood disorders. Conversations are practical and goal-oriented with room for emotional processing.
Sessions may use exercises, skills practice, and guided reflection. The aim is to leave people with tools they can use between appointments. Her style is direct but empathetic, inviting honest talk and steady problem solving.
How her approaches work in online sessions
Kristine uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify and change unhelpful thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going. CBT tends to focus on specific patterns and gives practical exercises to use between sessions.She also draws on Dialectical Behavior Therapy to teach emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and communication skills. DBT-style skills are useful when strong emotions or relationship stress get in the way of daily life.
Finding the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist and client will review needs, goals, and preferences and then try techniques that fit. Plans can be adjusted as work progresses so sessions stay focused and helpful.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is good for full conversations and visual cues. Phone sessions can fit a short break during the day or when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging work well for check-ins, skill coaching, and ongoing support between longer calls.
Frequently asked questions
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Specialties and expertise
Top specialties
- Stress, Anxiety
- Self esteem
- Career difficulties
Also works with
- Addictions
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Control issues
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Life purpose
- Money and financial issues
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Personality disorders
- Relationship issues
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-love
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Somatization
- Trauma and abuse
- Workplace issues
Therapeutic approaches
- Experience
- 14 years
- Licensed
- Illinois
- Languages
- English