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KB Portrait of Kristen Buongiorno
Online therapist

Kristen Buongiorno

Practical, direct support for real-life challenges

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Credentials
LCSW
Experience
14 years
Licensed in
New Jersey
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Kristen

Kristen Buongiorno is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with 14 years of clinical experience. She offers a direct but compassionate style and focuses on practical steps people can use right away. Kristen centers sessions on clear goals and on building skills that reduce stress and improve day-to-day functioning.

She emphasizes how thoughts and behaviors connect, drawing on cognitive behavioral techniques to help people change unhelpful patterns. Mindfulness practices and grounding exercises are used to calm the body and manage intense emotions.

Background and approach

Kristen also uses elements of dialectical behavior strategies and motivational interviewing when they fit a person’s needs. Safety is a priority in her work. When needed she helps create straightforward safety plans and discusses practical ways to stay stable during crises.

She is comfortable having honest, sometimes tough conversations while remaining steady and supportive. Her experience includes helping people dealing with anxiety, depression, trauma, stress, grief, addiction concerns, identity-related issues, and major life transitions. Kristen also has background supporting people coping with illness and military-related experiences.

Sessions are offered from New Jersey and conducted in English. Kristen views therapy as a collaborative process and works with each person to set realistic goals. She encourages people to take the first step when they are ready to make a change.

How evidence-based approaches translate to online care

Kristen commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness practices in her work. Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thought patterns and behaviors, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improve daily functioning. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple breathing and grounding exercises to help lower immediate stress and increase emotional awareness.

Finding the right approach is part of the process. Kristen works collaboratively with each person to choose methods that match their goals, needs, and preferences. She will talk through options and try techniques together to see what feels most useful over time.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to provide flexibility. These formats let people fit therapy into busy schedules, follow up between sessions if needed, and access support from home. The variety of ways to connect makes it easier to use the approaches described above in practical, real-world ways.

Client-Centered Therapy

The direction comes from you rather than from a set programme. The therapist offers a warm, non-judgemental space to think out loud and work at your own pace. Online, this rests on the relationship rather than on being in the same room.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT looks at the link between what you think, how you feel, and what you do. You work on noticing unhelpful patterns and practising steadier responses. It suits online sessions well, because much of the work happens between appointments and can be talked through from anywhere.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Concrete skills for riding out strong emotion, tolerating distress, and handling relationships without things escalating. The skills are practised in daily life, so between-session support by message or phone fits naturally.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, anger, self esteem, depression, addictions, LGBT issues, relationship and family concerns, grief, and intimacy-related issues among others.
What is her therapeutic style?
She uses a direct but compassionate approach that focuses on practical skills, clear goals, and honest conversations tailored to each person.
What background does she bring to sessions?
She brings 14 years of clinical experience and has worked with people facing depression, anxiety, major life changes, illness, sexual assault, and veteran-related issues.
What credentials and location are listed?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker - LCSW, licensed in New Jersey with license number NJ LCSW 44SC05608900 and practices from New Jersey.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats are available?
Sessions can be conducted by video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
How are costs and billing handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working together?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
14 years
Licensed
New Jersey
Languages
English

Next step

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