Kristi Rakes

Kristi Rakes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who focuses on helping people cope with hard moments. She approaches sessions with compassion, empathy, and a nonjudgmental attitude. Kristi aims to help clients find strengths during pain and vulnerability.

She brings 13 years of clinical experience in mental health and works from a holistic perspective. Her work includes supporting people through stress, anxiety, grief, depression, and life changes. She also helps those managing addictions, ADHD, mood disorders, and concerns around self-esteem and relationships.

Kristi uses straightforward, practical methods in sessions. She draws on Client-Centered approaches to make space for each person's story. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to identify patterns that keep problems going and to try new, healthier responses.

Her background includes experience with aging and geriatric issues, caregiver stress, hospice and end-of-life counseling, postpartum depression, and compassion fatigue. She also addresses trauma, obsessions and compulsions, panic, and issues related to identity and intimacy.

In the therapy room Kristi focuses on strengths and on small, achievable steps. She uses motivational interviewing and mindfulness tools when those fit a person's goals. Sessions are aimed at practical change and clearer thinking about next steps.

How Kristi’s approaches fit into online care

Kristi commonly uses Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy in her work. Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and reflecting so people can find their own answers, which helps when someone needs a safe space to talk through grief or life changes. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at thoughts and behaviors that keep someone stuck and teaches practical skills to change those patterns, useful for anxiety, depression, or panic.

She also uses Mindfulness Therapy to help people notice their thoughts and bodily reactions without getting swept away. Mindfulness practices can reduce stress reactions and support regulation during hard moments like caregiving or bereavement.

Finding the right approach is a team effort. The therapist will discuss what feels most useful and try different methods based on your needs, goals, and preferences. Many people use a mix of approaches rather than one single method.

Please confirm which session formats Kristi currently offers before booking, as the profile does not list specific formats. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They also let people keep therapy in their regular routine while trying out different coping tools.