Kristine Zappa (she/her)

My Approach to Helping

My approach to counseling starts with a belief that healing happens within a safe, compassionate, non-judgmental relationship. I use present moment awareness to help clients recognize old patterns as they occur and guide them to make choices more aligned with their goals. From a somatic perspective, I believe the body and the mind are intimately linked and I safely incorporate body awareness as a path towards greater self-awareness. I also believe that systems play an important role in our experience and should be taken into account when treating mental health; these systems can include culture, institutions, community, family, intimate relationships and more. Lastly, and importantly, my approach to counseling is not one of being an "expert", but my goal is to help clients discover their own inherent wisdom.

My Personal Beliefs and Interests

I hold a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a concentration in Somatic (body-centered) Counseling from Naropa University in Boulder, CO. My training includes both body psychotherapy and dance/movement therapy (DMT). Additionally, I am trained in level one of Sensorimotor Psychotherapy, a holistic and somatic approach to treating trauma. I am also trained in polyvagal theory, EMDR, DBT facilitation, client-centered therapy, attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and social justice counseling. As a practiced meditator, I weave mindfulness throughout my work with clients.