- Years in practice
- 23
- Credentials
- LPC
- Licensed in
- Pennsylvania
- Languages
- English
- Focus
- Stress, Anxiety
- Focus
- Addictions
- Focus
- Trauma and abuse
About Kristen
Kristen Gaughan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) based in Pennsylvania with 23 years of experience in behavioral health. She began pursuing counseling early in life and has worked across many treatment settings. Kristen helps people facing addiction, mood challenges, trauma, and the daily stress of caregiving and work.
Her approach is grounded in long experience and practical problem-solving. Kristen earned a bachelor’s degree from York College of Pennsylvania with a double major in psychology and sociology and minors in criminal justice corrections and German.
Background and approach
She completed a master’s degree in mental health counseling at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. These studies support a broad clinical perspective shaped over two decades of practice. She provides care for a wide range of concerns including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, grief, and addiction to drugs, alcohol, and behaviors like gambling or compulsive spending.
Kristen also assists people dealing with relationship strain, parenting stress, attachment and abandonment issues, and first responder challenges. In sessions she uses approaches centered on the client along with emotionally-focused and solution-focused methods. She also draws on psychodynamic thinking and motivational interviewing to help people clarify goals and build momentum toward change.
Sessions are practical and aimed at skills people can use between appointments. Kristen offers online formats including video, phone, live chat, and text messaging and supports international clients in English. She aims to help people find calmer, more satisfying routines and stronger ways to cope with life changes.
What Kristen works with
Everything Kristen lists, in the therapist's own terms. Parenting is the reason this directory exists; the rest shows what else Kristen helps people with.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Addictions
- Trauma and abuse
- Self esteem
- Depression
- Relationship issues
- Family conflicts
- Grief
- Intimacy-related issues
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Coping with life changes
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Blended family issues
- Cancer
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Commitment issues
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Drug and alcohol addiction
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- First responder issues
- Forgiveness
- Infidelity
- Jealousy
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Women's issues
- Workplace issues
Approaches Kristen lists
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Motivational Interviewing
- Psychodynamic Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
Listing an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist names and does not check training records.
Approaches that guide online work
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on listening and responding to each person's needs. The therapist follows the person's lead, reflects feelings, and helps them find their own solutions, which can help with anxiety, low self-esteem, and parenting stress.Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) helps people identify and name strong emotions and the patterns that keep them stuck. It can be useful for relationship strain, intimacy-related issues, and attachment concerns by making emotions easier to understand and manage.
Motivational Interviewing is a short-term conversational method that helps people resolve mixed feelings about change. It can support work with addictions, health behavior change, or building momentum toward new habits.
Choosing the best approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with each person to decide which methods fit their goals, needs, and preferences. That process can shift over time as priorities change.
Online therapy formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video gives a face-to-face feel for deeper conversations. Phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited or a quieter check-in is needed. Live chat and messaging support brief check-ins, homework discussion, and flexible contact between appointments. These options make it simpler to fit therapy into busy family and work schedules.
Questions people ask about Kristen
What concerns does Kristen often address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, trauma, grief, parenting strain, relationship and intimacy issues, bipolar disorder, ADHD, and caregiver burnout.
What is her therapy style like?
Sessions are client-centered and practical, focusing on what matters most to the person. She blends emotionally-focused work with solution-focused and psychodynamic ideas to help people make changes.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Kristen brings 23 years of experience working in diverse behavioral health settings with a broad range of concerns.
What credentials and region are listed?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania.
Which languages and international options are available?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats does she offer?
Kristen provides video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to fit different schedules and needs.
How does payment and cost work?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.
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