PuttingFamilyFirst

The therapist listings are provided by BetterHelp and we will earn a commission if you use our link - at no cost to you.

KG Portrait of Kristen Gaughan
Online therapist

Kristen Gaughan

Compassionate counselor focused on practical change

Book with Kristen
Credentials
LPC
Experience
23 years
Licensed in
Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Kristen

Kristen Gaughan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania with 23 years of clinical experience. She chose this path early in life and has spent decades working in diverse treatment settings. Her work includes care for mood and anxiety concerns as well as treatment for substance use and process addictions.

Kristen approaches her role as a vocation and brings steady commitment to each person she meets. She uses straightforward, practical conversations to help clients manage stress and life's changes.

Background and approach

Sessions focus on understanding what is causing distress and finding workable steps forward. Kristen draws on several therapy styles to match the needs in the room rather than applying a single method. Her background includes a Bachelor’s degree from York College of Pennsylvania with majors in Psychology and Sociology and minors in Criminal Justice Corrections and German.

She also earned a Master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling from Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania. Those academic foundations support her years of hands-on clinical practice. In session she blends client-centered listening with techniques that address emotions and motivation.

That mix allows her to handle concerns such as trauma, grief, addiction, relationship and parenting challenges, and issues around self-esteem and coping. Kristen aims to help people move toward more peace and satisfaction in daily life. She offers services in English and welcomes international clients.

Kristen emphasizes collaboration - she works with each person to set goals and adjust strategies over time.

Therapeutic approaches suited to online sessions

Kristen commonly blends Client-Centered Therapy and Emotionally-Focused Therapy to address emotional pain and relationship patterns. Client-Centered Therapy centers on listening and creating a respectful space so people can explore what matters to them and decide next steps. Emotionally-Focused Therapy focuses on identifying core emotions and changing interaction patterns that keep people stuck, which can help with attachment, intimacy, and strong emotional reactions.

She also incorporates Motivational Interviewing when readiness to change is uneven. That approach uses open questions and collaborative dialogue to increase motivation and resolve ambivalence around behaviors such as substance use. Kristen works together with each person to choose which approaches fit best for their goals and situation rather than using a single model for everyone.

Online therapy offers flexible ways to keep work going even with busy schedules. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation from home, while phone sessions remove the need for video. Live chat and text-based messaging let people share thoughts between sessions or choose a lower-intensity format. These options help people maintain continuity of care and fit therapy into real life while collaborating with a licensed professional on goals and next steps.

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.

Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)

Attends to the emotions underneath a recurring argument or distance, and to the attachment needs driving them. Often used where a relationship keeps returning to the same painful loop.

Motivational Interviewing

A way of working through mixed feelings about change without being pushed. The therapist helps you weigh things up and find your own reasons, which often makes a difficult decision feel less stuck.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of problems does she address?
She helps with stress, anxiety, depression, addictions, trauma and abuse, grief, and parenting challenges among other concerns listed in her profile.
How would you describe her therapy style?
She uses a practical, down-to-earth approach that listens first and then builds steps forward. Her work combines empathic listening with targeted techniques.
What is her professional background?
Kristen has 23 years of clinical experience and has worked in a range of treatment settings with people facing mental health and addiction issues.
What credentials and region apply to her practice?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor with licence PA LPC PC006886 and practices from Pennsylvania.
Which languages are supported for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
She conducts video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to suit different needs and schedules.
How does payment work and what does it cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and then scheduling according to the therapist's availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
23 years
Licensed
Pennsylvania
Languages
English

Next step

Talk to Kristen

  • Takes a few minutes
  • Nothing to set up just to look
  • Stop at any point
Book with Kristen