Kristen Udell

Compassionate, practical therapy for life challenges

LMHC Iowa

Experience: 8 years in practice
Focus areas: Stress, Anxiety, Trauma and abuse, Self esteem
Approaches: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Client-Centered Therapy
Languages: English

About Kristen

Kristen Udell is an Iowa-licensed mental health counselor (LMHC) who blends Cognitive Behavioral Therapy with client-centered and solution-focused techniques to support people navigating stress, anxiety, trauma, and life transitions.

Background and approach

With eight years of professional experience, she emphasizes collaborative care that meets each person where they are, shaping conversations and treatment plans around individual needs and goals. Her work addresses concerns such as self-esteem, coping with change, relationship and family challenges, and issues tied to motivation and mild depression.

Kristen approaches healing and problem-solving as a partnership, using practical strategies to identify patterns, build coping skills, and move toward solutions while also attending to past or ongoing trauma. She aims to treat clients with respect, sensitivity, and compassion throughout the therapeutic process.

Kristen typically replies to messages within 24 hours on weekdays and within 48 hours over weekends. She encourages those taking the first steps toward therapy and offers flexible online session options to fit different schedules and preferences.

Using Focused Approaches in Online Therapy

Kristen integrates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Client-Centered Therapy into her online work, offering clear, practical tools alongside empathic, person-centered support. CBT helps identify and adjust unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns to reduce symptoms like anxiety and stress, while client-centered methods prioritize the client's experience, encouraging self-exploration and acceptance to improve confidence and self-love.

Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic journey, and she treats approach selection as a collaborative process. Together with clients she discusses goals, preferences, and the specific issues presented, then tailors techniques and pacing so the work fits personal needs and changes over time as progress is made.

Online therapy with Kristen is available via video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging, which can make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives and access support from home. These formats allow for flexible scheduling and for continued contact between sessions when messaging is used, helping people stay engaged with their goals while balancing daily responsibilities.

Frequently asked questions

What issues does Kristen commonly address in sessions?

She focuses on stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, self-esteem issues, coping with life changes, relationship and family concerns, and related topics like communication problems and forgiveness.

How would you describe her therapeutic style?

Her approach draws from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Client-Centered Therapy, and Solution-Focused Therapy to create practical, collaborative, and client-guided work on presenting concerns.

What is her professional background and experience?

Kristen has eight years of clinical experience working with a range of concerns including anxiety, trauma, motivation, and mild depression.

Where is she licensed to practice?

She is a licensed mental health counselor in Iowa with the credential IA LMHC 00942.

Can sessions be conducted in languages other than English?

Sessions are provided in English; she is not currently accepting international clients.

What session formats does she offer?

She offers video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging to accommodate different preferences and schedules.

How are fees and payment handled?

Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.

What are the steps to begin working with her?

Start by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety Trauma and abuse Self esteem Coping with life changes

Also works with

Relationship issuesFamily conflicts

Additional focus areas

Communication problemsForgivenessLife purposeSelf-loveWomen's issues

Therapeutic approaches

Client-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Solution-Focused Therapy

Experience

8+ years

Licensed

Iowa

Languages

English