Kristen Zavala, LPCC, LPC

Kristen Zavala is a licensed counselor who helps people facing stress, anxiety, and related emotional challenges. She holds LPCC and LPC credentials and practices in New Mexico. Her style is warm and cooperative, aiming to make therapy feel straightforward and useful from the first session.

She focuses on common struggles such as depression, panic, grief, and social isolation. She also supports people dealing with trauma, sexual assault recovery, and the emotional effects of gender dysphoria. Kristen works with concerns that include addiction, compulsive behaviors like trichotillomania, and intimacy-related worries.

Her work combines client-centered listening with practical tools from cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused methods. That means sessions often balance understanding what matters to the client with small, doable changes to daily routines and thought patterns. Trauma-focused approaches are used when people bring histories of abuse or post-traumatic stress.

Over a decade of practice has given her experience helping people rebuild self-esteem, manage panic attacks, and cope with major life changes. She also addresses compassion fatigue and the special stressors some people face during fertility or relationship struggles. The goal is steady, manageable progress rather than quick fixes.

Kristen describes therapy as a collaborative effort. She works with clients to set clear goals and develops strategies that fit their lives. Sessions are offered in English and reflect her commitment to an affirming, nonjudgmental approach for LGBT individuals and others seeking support.

How her approaches shape online therapy

Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and understanding each person's priorities. The therapist follows the client's lead, asking questions and reflecting back what matters most so sessions stay relevant and respectful.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks down unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns into concrete parts you can change. It is practical work that suits anxiety, panic, and mood concerns by practicing new responses and testing small behavioral shifts between sessions.

Kristen treats finding the right approach as a shared process. She will discuss options, try techniques, and adjust plans based on a client's goals and preferences. The collaboration helps pick methods that feel manageable and that match the pace a person wants.

Confirm the current session options before booking, since formats are not specified in the biography. Online sessions can help fit therapy into busy schedules by reducing travel time, allowing shorter check-ins on a work break, or offering alternatives when video is not convenient. Licensed professionals can use these conveniences to make therapy more practical while focusing on steady, goal-oriented progress.