PuttingFamilyFirst

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KD Portrait of Kristina Dugas
Online therapist

Kristina Dugas

Supportive parenting and family guidance

Credentials
LCSW
Experience
7 years
Licensed in
Pennsylvania, Maine
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Kristina

Kristina Dugas is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who focuses on family and parenting concerns. She offers clear, practical support for parents and caregivers facing stress, anxiety, grief, trauma, or challenges related to LGBT issues. Her style is straightforward and hands-on, aimed at helping families find workable steps they can use at home.

She has seven years of professional experience in Pennsylvania across schools, residential settings, and outpatient care.

Background and approach

That background means she is used to working with young people and the adults who care for them. Her work often addresses social anxiety and phobia alongside broader anxiety and mood concerns. Kristina uses evidence-based methods chosen to fit each family’s needs.

She draws from cognitive behavioral techniques, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, exposure and response prevention, and parenting strategies. Those approaches are adapted to the situation rather than applied the same way to everyone. Sessions focus on building practical skills.

She helps parents and young people practice new ways of handling stress, manage anxious thoughts, and respond to difficult behavior. The aim is to strengthen coping and find existing strengths the family can rely on. Her approach is collaborative and direct.

Families can expect clear suggestions, short-term skill-building, and ongoing adjustment of strategies as progress is made.

Therapeutic techniques and online family support

Kristina commonly uses cognitive behavioral techniques to help families change unhelpful thinking and behaviors through structured practice. This approach is useful for anxiety, stress, and everyday parenting challenges. She also incorporates mindfulness to teach simple attention and breathing skills that reduce overwhelm and improve focus for both parents and children.

When exposure strategies are appropriate, she may introduce principles from exposure and response prevention to help reduce avoidance and social anxiety. For parenting-specific work, elements of Triple P parenting strategies are used to build consistent routines and clear responses to behavior. These methods are presented in easy-to-follow steps so families can try them between sessions.

Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. Kristina discusses goals and preferences with each family and adjusts techniques as progress is made. Clients are part of deciding which methods feel most useful and realistic for their daily life.

Online therapy offers flexibility for busy families. Video calls allow face-to-face conversations, phone sessions provide a simpler option, and live chat or text-based messaging support shorter check-ins or coaching between sessions. These formats help parents fit therapy into their schedules and practice new skills in real time.

Frequently asked questions

What kinds of concerns does Kristina address?
She supports families with stress, anxiety, parenting challenges, grief, trauma and LGBT-related issues. Social anxiety and phobia are also areas she focuses on.
What is her approach in sessions?
She uses evidence-based techniques like cognitive behavioral strategies and mindfulness to teach practical skills. Sessions emphasize concrete steps families can try between meetings.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Kristina has seven years of experience working in schools, residential settings, and outpatient care with children, adolescents, families, and young adults.
What credentials and location are listed for Kristina?
She is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with Pennsylvania license PA LCSW CW022819 and Maine license ME LCSW LC20708, practicing from Pennsylvania.
Which languages and regions are supported?
Sessions are offered in English. She does not work with international clients at this time.
What session formats are available?
Therapy can be provided through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to suit different family needs.
How is cost handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability and uses a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Also works with

Experience
7 years
Licensed
Pennsylvania, Maine
Languages
English

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