Kristen Kakanis , LCSW

Kristen Kakanis is a Tennessee-licensed clinician with ten years of professional experience who focuses on helping people navigate stress, anxiety, relationship challenges, anger management, motivation, self-esteem, and confidence. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW - she brings clinical training in social work and therapeutic practice to support clients through change and growth.

Kristen approaches therapy from a strengths-based perspective, affirming that each person is the expert of their own story and has resources that can be used to overcome current challenges. She emphasizes the courage it takes to seek a more fulfilling and happier life and offers support aimed at empowering clients as they take early steps toward meaningful change.

In sessions, Kristen works collaboratively to identify goals and build on existing strengths, helping individuals develop practical skills and renewed confidence. Her style centers on encouragement, partnership, and clear, practical guidance designed to help clients make sustainable progress toward the life they want.

Therapeutic Approaches for Online Care

Kristen uses client-centered therapy to create sessions that focus on the individual and their personal goals, offering empathy and collaborative support that helps people feel heard and understood while they explore challenges and strengths. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy or CBT is used to identify unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns and to develop practical strategies for coping with anxiety, stress, low mood, and confidence issues. Motivational interviewing helps when a person is working through ambivalence or seeking greater motivation - the approach supports the client's own reasons for change and encourages small, achievable steps toward goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Kristen works collaboratively with each person to determine which methods best fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She tailors the work to the individual and adjusts strategies as progress is made so therapy remains relevant and useful.

Online therapy offers flexible options including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life and to maintain consistency over time. These formats allow licensed professionals to deliver the same therapeutic tools and support in ways that match a client's schedule and communication preferences.