Kirsten Probst-Santha, LCSW

Kirsten Probst-Santha is a licensed clinical social worker who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, and major life changes. She offers straightforward support for parenting concerns, relationships, mood struggles, and trauma. Her style is warm and practical, aimed at making small changes that add up.

Kirsten draws on cognitive behavioral therapy to identify unhelpful thoughts and try new behaviors. She also uses client-centered and dialectical behavior therapy ideas to build emotional regulation and stronger coping skills. Sessions are collaborative and focused on what the person wants to change.

Her background includes work in school, residential, and community settings. That experience informs how she helps people manage transitions and crisis situations. She pays attention to culture and life context when planning care.

In the therapy room she emphasizes practical tools. Clients can expect skills for managing intense feelings, strategies for stress reduction, and step-by-step plans for problem solving. Homework and real-world practice are used when helpful.

Kirsten describes the first session as a chance to set goals and build a plan together. She aims for a respectful, listening approach so people feel heard and understood. Small changes over time are the typical focus.

She holds a LCSW - Licensed Clinical Social Worker - and practices in North Carolina. Sessions are offered in English and she works with people in-person and online. The emphasis is on steady progress and practical skills rather than quick fixes.

How therapy approaches translate to online care

Kirsten uses cognitive behavioral therapy to help identify unhelpful thought patterns and test small behavior changes that reduce anxiety and low mood. CBT is practical and task-focused, which often adapts well to remote sessions. She also draws on client-centered therapy, which prioritizes listening, empathy, and the person’s own goals to shape the work.

Dialectical behavior therapy ideas are used to teach emotional regulation and distress tolerance skills. Those are taught through explanation, practice in session, and short exercises to try between meetings. Choosing the right approach is part of the process; she works together with each person to pick methods that match goals, day-to-day demands, and what feels workable.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, giving flexibility for different routines. Video is useful for deeper conversation and role-play, phone is simpler when bandwidth is limited, live chat and messaging suit quick check-ins or brief skill coaching. These options make it easier to fit therapy into work days, caregiving schedules, or when travel is difficult.