Kristen Craren

First and foremost, I am a human just like you. I just happen to be a human with a lot of experience you can benefit from! I am divorced and remarried. I have 2 kids and a therapy dog who is an amazing addition to the office. Several other clinicians in my practice have therapy dogs too, which is fantastic and fun. I enjoy hiking and riding my bike with my family. I work hard and play hard, but I try to get outside as much as possible so I can stay fresh for when you come and see me. I have a lot of respect for my clients. Your growth is amazing to whiteness. I am honored to meet quite a few amazing people in my line of work and I can't wait to meet you!

My own journey started me on the path to becoming a wellness professional. I started wanting to work solely with families going through divorce because of the struggles I endured due to my parents divorce- I want to advocate for children. That venture turned into learning how to treat anxiety, depression and other trauma which are usually why people get a divorce anyway. During my journey I learned that not everything is wrapped up in a simple bow. There are many factors affecting your mental health and having connections with other wellness professionals is important to treat the whole picture and give my clients the best chance at meeting their goals.

I smile when I think of this because I have such tight relationships with my clients and because we get work done but not without some laughs and silliness. My clients say that when they first meet me I feel like a real person, versus what they have seen therapists portrayed as in movies or even in person. I am relatable. I have been told this is important to them because it eases shame. All in all they report feeling comfortable.

Therapy is a journey. There are no quick fixes; it has taken time for you to get where you are at and it will take time to move on to something new-whatever that means to you. Therapy is much like an exercise program. You have to sick with it, consistently before you will see results. Show up, week after week and take it one step at a time. If you learn or grow in one small way each session it's worth it. Every droplet of change turns into a fountain of growth.