About Kristi
Kristi Rakes is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) who helps people facing stress, anxiety, grief, and life transitions. She brings a calm, direct approach and focuses on practical steps people can use right away. Kristi listens without judgement and looks for strengths clients can build on.
She has 13 years of experience in mental health and is also licensed in South Carolina as an LISW-CP. Kristi draws from several methods to match the work to what each person needs.
How Kristi works
Sessions are grounded in real problems and clear goals rather than clinical jargon. Kristi uses client-centered conversations to understand a person’s priorities. She often pairs this with cognitive behavioral techniques to shift unhelpful thinking.
Mindfulness and motivational interviewing help when someone is trying to change habits or manage overwhelming feelings. People come for a wide range of concerns, including depression, bipolar mood issues, panic, PTSD-related worries, addiction, body image, caregiver stress, and struggles with intimacy or relationships. She also works with issues around aging, hospice and end-of-life concerns, postpartum depression, and professional burnout.
Kristi aims to make therapy a practical part of life. She helps people set small, achievable goals and practices skills between sessions. The focus is on clearer thinking, gentler self-talk, and steps that lead toward better day-to-day functioning.
Kristi lists 7 ways of working on the entry:
What Kristi works with
The areas below are the ones Kristi selected when setting up a profile. The first few are listed as the main focus; the rest are also named.
Also listed
- Addictions
- ADHD
- Aging and geriatric issues
- Anger management
- Bipolar disorder
- Body image
- Career difficulties
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Communication problems
- Compassion fatigue
- Coping with life changes
- Depression
- Emptiness
- Family conflicts
- Family problems
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Hospice and end-of-life counseling
- Intimacy-related issues
- Isolation / loneliness
- LGBT
- Life purpose
- Mood disorders
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Parenting issues
- Post-traumatic stress
- Postpartum depression
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Relationship issues
- Self-love
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Trauma and abuse
- Women's issues
Training and background
| Registers | LCSW, LISW-CP |
|---|---|
| Years in practice | 13 |
| Languages | English |
| Session format | Online: video, phone, live chat or messaging |
| Country | North Carolina |
Memberships and registers are shown as supplied; they are not licences, and this directory does not verify them.
Online support options
Therapy Approaches That Fit Your Schedule
Kristi commonly uses client-centered work and cognitive behavioral therapy in online sessions. Client-centered therapy focuses on listening, reflecting what matters to the person, and building on strengths to meet real goals. Cognitive behavioral therapy looks at patterns of thinking and behavior, then teaches concrete tools to reduce symptoms like anxiety or panic.She also uses mindfulness techniques to help people notice thoughts and feelings without getting overwhelmed. That approach can help with stress, mood management, and developing steady coping skills.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapy process. Kristi will talk with each person about their goals and preferences and then shape sessions together. That collaborative planning makes it easier to try an approach and adjust if something isn’t working.
Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video is useful for in-depth conversations and skill practice. Phone sessions can fit into a short break or work better when bandwidth is limited. Live chat or text messaging can be helpful for brief check-ins, homework support, or when someone prefers typed communication. These options make it easier to keep therapy consistent around busy schedules.
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Common questions
What kinds of problems does Kristi address?
What is her therapeutic style like?
How many years has she worked in mental health?
What credentials does she hold and where is she based?
Which languages are offered for sessions?
What session formats are available online?
How are sessions paid for?
How does someone begin working with her?
A practical next step
Write down two things you would want to be different in six months. That is the most useful thing to bring to a first session, whoever it is with. If you would rather start now than keep reading, online sessions are the quickest route.
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