Kristen Buongiorno , LCSW

Kristen Buongiorno is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) with 14 years of clinical experience supporting people through depression, anxiety, relationship struggles, major life transitions, illness and cancer, sexual assault, and Veterans issues including combat-related concerns and military sexual trauma (MST). She has worked with diverse populations and brings a practical, trauma-informed perspective to care.

Kristen is known for being both compassionate and direct, willing to engage in the difficult conversations that often lead to change. Safety is a primary concern in her work - she prioritizes assessing risk and developing safety plans when they are needed so clients can build stability as they move forward.

Her clinical approach is grounded in the link between thoughts and behaviors, drawing on cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients identify unhelpful patterns and develop more effective coping strategies. Kristen also integrates mindfulness and meditation practices to help clients stay present, reduce overwhelm, and strengthen self-care routines.

Therapy with Kristen is collaborative - she treats each person as the expert on their own life and partners with them to set clear, achievable goals. She encourages motivated clients to take steps toward change and offers practical tools, structure, and support throughout the process.

Therapeutic Approaches and Accessible Online Care

Kristen draws on client-centered therapy to create a collaborative environment where the client’s priorities guide the work. This approach focuses on understanding each person’s unique experience and building treatment goals together so therapy feels relevant and respectful of individual values.

She also uses cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) to help clients explore the connections between thoughts, feelings, and actions. CBT offers practical strategies for managing anxiety, depressive symptoms, and patterns that interfere with daily functioning by teaching skills to reframe unhelpful thinking and alter behaviors.

Mindfulness practices are woven into sessions to help clients develop present-moment awareness and reduce emotional reactivity. Simple meditation and grounding techniques can be useful for managing stress, trauma responses, and overwhelming emotions.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process. Kristen works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as progress is made.

Online therapy with Kristen uses video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to offer flexibility and accessibility. These options make it easier to maintain consistent care around work, family, and other commitments while still engaging with a licensed professional who can provide structure, support, and practical tools.