- Family of origin issues
- Addiction support
- Attachment and abandonment
About Kristen
Kristen Gaughan is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Pennsylvania with 23 years of experience in behavioral health. She works with people facing stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, relationship concerns, and family-related patterns. She also addresses parenting strain, grief, attachment difficulties, and career or life transitions.
Gaughan trained at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, earning a master’s degree in Mental Health Counseling, after completing a bachelor’s degree at York College of Pennsylvania. Her background includes work across multiple treatment settings and with a wide range of presenting problems, including substance use and process addictions such as gambling and disordered eating.
Her approach blends client-centered talk with emotionally-focused work. She also uses motivational interviewing to strengthen commitment to change. Psychodynamic ideas and solution-focused strategies appear when clients want to examine longstanding patterns and build concrete coping steps.
In sessions she pays attention to how family of origin experiences shape current behavior and relationships. That can include patterns of abandonment, codependency, blended family challenges, or attachment issues. She helps people notice recurring roles learned in childhood and how those roles show up now.
Practical concerns like managing compassion fatigue, juggling caregiver stress, or coping with chronic illness are part of the work she addresses. Kristen supports clients exploring intimacy, commitment, and recovery from domestic violence or substance-related problems. For people wanting to change how family history affects today, she offers steady, experience-based guidance.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-centered therapy focuses on listening and reflecting. The therapist follows the client's lead, helping people name feelings and priorities so they can decide on next steps. This approach is helpful for stress, anxiety, and relationship confusion.Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT) focuses on identifying emotional responses and changing interaction patterns. It is useful when attachment and closeness feel difficult or when family roles repeat across relationships. Motivational Interviewing is a short-term, goal-oriented method that strengthens a person's motivation to change behaviors like substance use or unhealthy habits.
Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will collaborate with the client to decide which methods fit the client's needs, goals, and preferences. That discussion happens over the first few sessions and can be adjusted as progress is made.
Session formats are not specified here, so confirm current online options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a busy life, allow for shorter or more frequent check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. They can also help people manage care around work, caregiving, or medical appointments without requiring a long commute.
Areas of expertise
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Pennsylvania
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What issues does she address related to family patterns?
She works with family of origin issues, attachment concerns, blended family stress, and patterns such as codependency and abandonment.
What is her general therapy style?
She combines client-centered listening with emotionally-focused work and practical problem-solving techniques.
How much clinical experience does she have?
Kristen has 23 years of experience in behavioral health settings, working with a wide range of mental health and addiction concerns.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) licensed in Pennsylvania.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English, and she accepts international clients.
What session formats are available?
Session formats are not specified here; please confirm current session options before booking so you know what is offered.
How is cost handled for sessions?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.