Kristen Lee

Kristen Lee (she/her) is a licensed clinical social worker who obtained her undergraduate and graduate degrees in social work from Virginia Commonwealth University. With over 14 years working in the mental health field, she has provided a wide range of therapeutic services to  adolescents, adults, couples, and families from diverse backgrounds and cultures. Kristen enjoys empowering clients to learn more about themselves and to achieve their desired goals. Kristen is also an adjunct instructor with VCU’s Master of Social Work program.

Kristen approaches therapy eclectically in order to utilize the best therapeutic approach for each individual client. In all cases, she utilizes person-centered and strengths based techniques. Kristen is experienced in providing services to the LGBTQIA+ community, to poly couples and individuals, and is kink friendly. She is able to use a wide variety of therapeutic approaches including: expressive therapies with elements of art and play, narrative therapy, Cognitive Behavioral therapy including Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavior therapy and schema therapy, and the Gottman method. She is often described as intuitive, professional, approachable, and empathetic.

Kristen is a 200 hour trained yoga teacher with a specialty in gentle hatha (traditional) yoga for mental health care. She enjoys helping clients to learn mindfulness and improve their mind-body-spirit connection through simple yoga practices to achieve emotional well-being. She believes that with guidance, yoga is an accessible tool, available to all clients, to use to better calm the mind and steady emotions.

As a Certified Trauma Practitioner, Kristen also has a unique skill set to help clients of all ages address issues of trauma and/or abuse. She understands the importance of building trust prior to processing traumatic experiences, and of always offering her office as a safe place to explore the impacts of trauma. Kristen also has extensive knowledge of military culture, and enjoys supporting service members, veterans, and their families. In 2017 she received the Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate.  Kristen is currently working towards completion of the Integrative Sex and Couples Certification Training.

Specialties

Kristen enjoys empowering clients to learn more about themselves and to achieve their desired goals. She understands the value of mindfulness and its transformative power not only in our daily mindset but also in our relationships. She specializes in several areas including working with clients to manage executive functioning challenges, be it from trauma, Autism, ADD/ADHD, anxiety or depression to improve quality of life and successfully work through life’s challenges. She understands the importance of building trust prior to processing traumatic experiences, and of always offering her office (or zoom room) as a safe place to explore the impacts of trauma. Kristen also thrives working with couples, primarily utilizing the Gottman method, including working with couples in the to the LGBTQIA+ community, poly couples and individuals, and she is kink friendly. She is often described as intuitive, approachable, and empathetic.

Modalities

Kristen takes an eclectic approach to therapy utilizing expressive therapies with elements of art and play, narrative therapy, Cognitive Behavioral therapy including Mindfulness Based Cognitive Behavior therapy, schema therapy, and the Gottman method. Overall, Kristen believes in using a strengths-based and person centered approach to empower each of her clients.  Kristen is able to provide intensive (90-120 minute) couples session based on request if appropriate for specific needs.

Education

• Bachelor of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University May 2009
• Master of Social Work, Virginia Commonwealth University May 2010

Licenses and Certificates of Completion

• LCSW Virginia # 0904008400
• 200 hr Gentle Hatha Yoga Teacher Certification July 2020
• Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule 2 Administration Certification (ADOS2) October 2017
• Serving Our Veterans Behavioral Health Certificate May 2017
• Level 1 Gottman Method Couples Therapy Certified March 2016
• Certified Clinical Trauma Practitioner Level 1 January 2015
• Board approved LCSW clinical supervisor