Kristyn Smith, LCSW
Practical, narrative-informed mental health care
Details
| Name | Kristyn Smith |
|---|---|
| Credentials | LCSW |
| Based in | California |
| Licensed in | California |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English |
| Years in practice | 5 |
About Kristyn
Kristyn Smith, LCSW, focuses on practical help for people feeling overwhelmed by stress, anxiety, or big life changes. She writes plans that fit daily life and listens for what matters most to each person. Parents and adults who worry about relationships, mood, or self-worth often find clear steps to try after a session.
She has five years of clinical experience working in California and uses a mix of approaches to match different needs.
Background and approach
Kristyn draws on Narrative ideas to help people separate problems from their sense of self. She also uses Acceptance and Commitment Therapy to help people notice hard thoughts and take action toward what matters. Kristyn values teamwork with other health professionals when that helps a person’s care.
That means she coordinates with psychiatrists, psychologists, or allied health providers when a broader plan is useful. Her style is direct but compassionate, and she aims to make therapy understandable and doable. Common concerns she addresses include depression, trauma and abuse, bipolar mood concerns, anger, parenting stress, relationship struggles, and coping with chronic illness or caregiving demands.
She also helps with issues like abandonment, attachment difficulties, low motivation, and forgiveness. Sessions focus on real-life change rather than only talking about feelings. Kristyn helps people try small experiments, reframe stories that hold them back, and build skills for communication and emotion regulation.
She encourages steady progress and practical steps that fit each person’s routine.
What this therapist works with
Her listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Self esteem among the things Kristyn works with, alongside the areas below.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Trauma and abuse
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Abandonment
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Attachment issues
- Avoidant personality
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Narcissism
- Paranoia
- Self-love
- Women's issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in her listing among her approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Kristyn among the ways she works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Kristyn among the ways she works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Kristyn among the ways she works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Kristyn among the ways she works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Kristyn among the ways she works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Kristyn among the ways she works.
- Psychodynamic Therapy: Listed by Kristyn among the ways she works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Kristyn among the ways she works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Kristyn directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how she works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Kristyn directly how she uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How these approaches work online
Kristyn uses Narrative Therapy to help people tell a different story about themselves, separating problems from identity so small changes feel possible. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is used to notice and accept difficult thoughts while choosing actions that line up with personal values. Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on patterns in close relationships and helps people build safer, more dependable ways of relating.Choosing the right approach is part of the work. She will discuss options and try methods that suit a person's goals and comfort level. The therapist and client decide together which ideas to test and how to adapt them for daily life.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make scheduling easier. Video sessions allow face-to-face conversation and shared worksheets, phone sessions work well when bandwidth is limited, live chat can be a quicker check-in, and messaging supports shorter or ongoing check-ins between meetings. These options help fit therapy into work, family, and caregiving routines.
Common questions about this listing
What issues does Kristyn commonly address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship problems, self-esteem, trauma and abuse, parenting strain, anger, bipolar concerns, and coping with life changes.
What is Kristyn's therapeutic style?
Her approach is practical and collaborative, using Narrative and acceptance-based methods to reframe problems and guide real-life experiments.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Kristyn has five years of clinical experience working with adults in California.
What are her credentials and where is she located?
She is a licensed clinical social worker, LCSW, licensed in California and practices with that credential.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be scheduled as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How is cost handled for therapy sessions?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability and sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with Kristyn?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Kristyn are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Kristyn where she has space. Ask about fees, and whether she holds a licence or registration where you live.
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