Kristen Kakanis, LCSW

Kristen Kakanis is a licensed clinical social worker in Tennessee with ten years of experience. She focuses on helping people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, low self-esteem, depression, addiction concerns, grief, and parenting strain. Kristen believes people know their own stories and brings a supportive presence to help them move forward.

She centers sessions on practical steps and clear goals. Kristen listens first, then helps clients identify patterns that keep them stuck. She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to break down unhelpful thoughts and habits into manageable pieces. Motivational Interviewing helps when someone feels unsure about change or needs a boost to take the next step.

Kristen also brings a client-centered stance to the work. That means she follows each person's pace and priorities while offering guidance and feedback. Solution-Focused techniques are used to set short-term goals and notice progress early on.

Sessions aim to be straightforward and collaborative. Kristen helps people build skills for managing anger, coping with life changes, and improving relationships. She supports parents who feel overwhelmed and professionals facing compassion fatigue.

Her approach combines active listening with hands-on tools people can use between sessions. Kristen frames each plan around the person's everyday life so changes feel doable. The goal is steady progress toward a more manageable and satisfying daily routine.

How her approaches work in online sessions

Kristen often uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to help people identify unhelpful thoughts and try different behaviors. CBT breaks problems into smaller parts so a person can test what works and what does not, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and anger. She also draws on Client-Centered Therapy, which focuses on listening and following the client's priorities. That approach helps people feel heard and choose goals that matter to them.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Kristen works together with each person to decide which methods fit their needs, goals, and preferences. She regularly checks in and adjusts the plan so therapy stays relevant and practical rather than fixed or one-size-fits-all.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for longer sessions and face-to-face conversation. Phone sessions can fit a break at work or be easier when bandwidth is limited. Live chat and text messaging work well for brief check-ins, quick coaching, or people who prefer writing. These options make it easier to schedule regular work on goals and keep momentum between meetings.