Hello,
My name is Kristen and I’m an Associate Clinical Social Worker.
Throughout my time as an ACSW, I have worked with children, teenagers, adolescents and adults. My goal is to create a welcoming and warm environment that facilitates a feeling of safety and inclusion. I believe in gender affirming care, with an emphasis on supporting and empowering the LGBTQIA2s+ community. I use a culturally competent approach, and focus on the whole individual, including external systems that play a part in mental health struggles and challenges. I am a strong believer in meeting the individual where they are currently at in their life and mental health journey. We’ll take it step by step, and go at each individual’s own pace.
Kristen Huntley ACSW #92861
EDUCATION & TRAINING
During my graduate program, I had the unique opportunity to gain experience from two different community sites. I was blessed to give back to my own community through the local Senior Center, where I was able to work one on one with our senior population, providing mental health support, as well as coordinating housing and resources aimed at bettering life’s experiences. I then worked at the Los Angeles LGBT Center in Hollywood, as a mental health advocate and provider, as well as crisis intervention and community outreach. Having been trained at both locations, I was able to gain a better understanding of mental health crisis work, as well as connecting individuals to the community. I bring this experience to my work today as I navigate each individual's mental health needs, while advocating for self expression and self empowerment.
APPROACH
With children and teens, I enjoy using different play and creative interventions. Therapy can often be seen as intimidating and serious, so I work to show the importance of expressing and processing feelings in healthy way, by meeting each child and adolescent at their own level, as well as showing compassion and empathy above all. I also enjoy incorporating art and creativity into sessions, as it often supports in expressing and processing emotions and experiences. My passions and areas of focus include depression, anxiety, trauma, life transitions, OCD, and the LGBTQIA2s+ community. Throughout our time together, I will work to ensure a safe and welcoming environment aimed to promote healing, growth, and self empowerment.
Supervised by: Leisha Borja, LMFT #83925