PuttingFamilyFirst

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

TC Portrait of Thea Cristwell-Butler
Online therapist

Thea Cristwell-Butler

Calm, practical help for family stress

Book with Thea
Credentials
LPC, LMHC
Experience
14 years
Licensed in
Texas, Florida
Languages
English
Format
Online sessions

About Thea

Thea Cristwell-Butler is a licensed professional counselor and licensed mental health counselor with 14 years of experience. She works from Texas and brings experience from nonprofit agencies, schools, and community settings. She meets people where they are and focuses on practical steps to reduce stress and improve family life.

She helps parents and caregivers facing everyday parenting challenges and family strain. Her work includes supporting people with anxiety, depression, trauma and abuse, grief, anger, and self-esteem struggles.

Background and approach

She also addresses issues like ADHD, blended family conflicts, and communication problems. In sessions she uses clear, hands-on strategies. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, and Emotionally-Focused Therapy are part of her toolbox.

She also draws on client-centered and mindfulness approaches to help people feel heard and steady their emotions. Thea takes a collaborative approach. She and the client set goals together and pick techniques that fit the family’s needs.

Sessions can focus on changing unhelpful thoughts, practicing new ways to talk at home, or building emotional connection between family members. Her background includes long-term work with children, adolescents, adults, families, and groups. She aims to make the path forward understandable and doable.

For a parent looking for concrete support, she focuses on small changes that add up to better family functioning.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate online

Thea commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy in her online work. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy looks at how thoughts, feelings, and actions connect and teaches practical skills to interrupt unhelpful patterns. It is useful for anxiety, depression, and stress-related problems.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy combines mindful awareness with values-based action. It helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being ruled by them, then choose steps that matter for their family and life. Emotionally-Focused Therapy is also part of her repertoire and focuses on helping family members understand emotions and rebuild connection when relationships feel strained.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Thea collaborates with each client to choose methods that fit their goals, preferences, and the family situation. She may mix techniques and adjust the plan as needs change so the work stays practical and relevant.

Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. These options let parents and caregivers fit sessions around school, work, and home routines. The variety of formats also makes it easier to practice skills between meetings and stay connected when life gets busy.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

Less about arguing with difficult thoughts, more about loosening their grip and acting on what matters to you anyway. Values and committed action carry the work, which suits conversation at a distance.

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.

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does she address?
Thea works with stress, anxiety, family issues, grief, parenting challenges, depression, relationship and intimacy issues, trauma and abuse, anger, self-esteem, career changes, coping with life transitions, and ADHD. She also focuses on related topics like blended family issues, caregiver stress, communication problems, and infidelity.
What is her therapeutic style like?
Her approach is collaborative and practical. She uses cognitive-behavioral methods, acceptance and commitment ideas, emotionally-focused skills, client-centered listening, and mindfulness to build concrete skills and improve relationships.
How long has she been practicing?
She has 14 years of experience working in nonprofit agencies, school settings, and community programs. That background includes work with children, adolescents, adults, families, and small groups.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
Thea holds the credentials LPC and LMHC with licensure details TX LPC 83857 and FL LMHC MH10540. She practices from Texas.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English.
What session formats does she offer?
She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to provide different ways to connect that fit day-to-day life.
How does payment work and what is the cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model 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 based on therapist availability.

Specialties and expertise

Top specialties

Also works with

Therapeutic approaches

Experience
14 years
Licensed
Texas, Florida
Languages
English

Next step

Talk to Thea

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