About Me

I am so glad that you are thinking about therapy! I hope that you will be able to find the help that you are looking for. My name is Kristen Mihara and I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker with an extensive background in counseling. I have been in the clinical field for over 15 years.

If you're a high-achieving professional who feels like you've tried everything for anxiety, stress, or constant worry but still can't find lasting relief, you're not alone. Many of my clients are successful in their careers and responsibilities yet privately struggle with perfectionism, self-criticism, overthinking, and the feeling that they are never quite "enough." They often know what they should do to feel better, but something deeper keeps them stuck. I specialize in helping adults understand and heal the underlying emotional patterns that drive anxiety, perfectionism, and chronic stress. My goal is to help you move beyond simply managing symptoms to getting to the root of it so you can find peace.

I also work with adults who find themselves repeating painful relationship patterns or feeling disconnected from their emotions. Adults who have experienced emotional neglect, manipulation, abuse, or trauma in their childhoods may find it surfacing for the first time and need help finding freedom from their stuck patterns. I can help them break free from the shame and guilt and begin to connect with themselves and others in a new way.

In addition, I provide therapy for individuals who have experienced church hurt, spiritual abuse, or religious trauma. Whether you're questioning your faith, grieving painful experiences within a faith community, or hoping to reconnect with God in a healthier way, I offer a compassionate, nonjudgmental space to process your story. My hope is that you find healing, clarity, and the freedom to move forward in a way that honors both your experiences and your values.

I practice using Dynamic Emotion Focused Therapy (DEFT) which is a compassionate collaboration that allows the person to move beyond defenses and self protective strategies to connecting to their adaptive emotions. I find this way of practicing increases access to emotional capacities and helps people to build more dynamic and trusting relationships with themselves and others. I also find that it brings immense relief to the psychological distress including (but not limited to); stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety that so many people suffer with on a day to day basis. I also utilize an integrative mix of experiential, psychodynamic, attachment focused, and person centered techniques in my work with clients.  

My Christian faith is an important part of who I am and naturally shapes the way I approach my work as a therapist. At the same time, I deeply respect each client's unique beliefs, values, and life experiences. Whether you identify as Christian, belong to another faith tradition, are questioning your beliefs, or do not consider yourself a person of faith, you will be met with compassion, curiosity, and respect.

I believe in the power of counseling and all the benefits that it produces. I am extremely collaborative in my approach with clients, I want therapy to meet your needs. I work hard to provide a warm, empathetic, and genuine space for my clients to share their lives. I am passionate about clients experiencing freedom and restoration through the therapeutic process.