- ACT
- CBT
- DBT
About Kristi
Dr. Kristi Hottenstein is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) and Licensed Professional Clinical Counselor (LPCC) practicing in Michigan with two decades of experience. She combines clinical work and coaching to address stress, anxiety, relationships, family concerns, self-esteem, depression, and a broad range of related issues. Dr. Hottenstein also helps with parenting challenges, addictions, grief, intimacy questions, ADHD, and career or life transitions.
She earned a doctorate in higher education administration from the University of Toledo, a master’s degree in Counseling from the University of La Verne, and a bachelor’s in Sociology from Alma College. She opened Compass Counseling & Coaching, PLLC, and has been an active member of the Michigan Mental Health Counselors Association, including board service starting in 2021.
Her sessions focus on practical skills and increased self-awareness. She draws from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Client-Centered Therapy, and Existential Therapy. That mix is used to help people notice patterns, test small changes, and manage strong emotions.
Dr. Hottenstein works with adults on relationship patterns and family-of-origin issues that continue to shape current life choices. She also provides coaching around college selection and career questions when those topics come up alongside counseling.
In sessions she encourages clients to recognize their own responsibilities and to practice new ways of responding. Conversations are straightforward and focused on concrete tools people can use between meetings. The aim is clearer decision making and more manageable day-to-day coping.
Therapeutic approaches and how they work online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them and then choose actions that matter to them. It is often used for anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thinking patterns and testing new behaviors; it is commonly used for anxiety, depression, and problem-solving. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) teaches emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and clearer communication skills, which can help with strong emotions and relationship strain.Choosing which approach to use is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that fit those goals, and adjust over time. The emphasis is on figuring out what works in practice rather than committing to one label upfront.
Session formats are not listed in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit counseling into a workday, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. They also let people keep therapy in the same place across moves within the same country. Licensed professionals can use the approaches described above in remote sessions to teach skills, set practice tasks between meetings, and review progress together.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
20+ years
Listed in
Michigan, Texas, Arizona, California, New Jersey, Virginia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does she address?
She works with stress, anxiety, relationship and family issues plus self-esteem, depression, addictions, grief, intimacy, and related concerns such as ADHD and caregiving stress.
How would you describe her approach in sessions?
She combines practical skill building with increased self-awareness, drawing from ACT, CBT, DBT, client-centered, and existential techniques to help people test changes and manage emotions.
How much clinical experience does she have?
She has 20 years of professional experience as a counselor since first becoming licensed in Michigan in 2009.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds LPC and LPCC credentials and practices in Michigan. She also holds a doctorate in higher education administration.
Are sessions offered in other languages or internationally?
Sessions are offered in English. She is not accepting international clients.
Which session formats are available?
Current session formats are not specified here; please confirm the available session formats before booking.
How does payment or cost work?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I begin working with her?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a 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.